Hello, dear Christian family!
We trust you are doing well in these perilous times. The raw power of the elements remind us how fragile our life on planet Earth is. The massive earthquake in Morocco and deadly floods in Libya are recent examples. But, as God’s children, we need not despair or feel helpless. I think of a little rhyme we learned in Sunday School: “Only One Life ‘Twill Soon Be Past. Only What’s Done For Christ Will Last.” These words often come to me as a reminder that God has a work for each of us to do. There are people He has placed in our life to impact and influence for Him. He wants us to work with Him as He ministers His love to others. If we embrace this lifelong pursuit of seeking to flow with God’s work of compassion and restoration in the lives of those He has brought across our path, we can rest assured that it does not go unnoticed by our Master.
“…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:20 KJV). For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister (Hebrews 6:10 NKJV).
What this looks like in each of our lives is between us and God as we seek Him in His Word. Thus, out of our relationship with Christ, and in the context of His leading in our life by the Holy Spirit, all of His children are ambassadors of His love to those in the world around us. This ministry that all of us share is something that comes out of our love for Him, for His children, and for those who do not know Christ as their Savior and Lord.
Think of what Jesus Christ sacrificed to come into this world. He took upon Himself the bonds of a human body, tempted in every way as we are and did so without ever sinning. He was subject to His parents as a child. He had to labor with His own hands. He knew exhaustion, hunger and thirst. He embraced our helpless suffering as He ministered divine healing to the sick and the dead. He completely surrendered His own will to that of His Heavenly Father. Despite His innocence, He took on Himself the curse and the just sentence of death which hung over all of us for our sins. He continues to be our example of unselfish love as He declares to unworthy mankind throughout the age, “Whoever believes in Me, shall not perish, but have eternal life!”
Therefore, as Scripture teaches, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” for He became a humble, obedient servant (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV). Oh, for the grace and love to heed this Word! What a wonderful prospect, to walk in the humility and obedience of a servant of the Most High God!
What great work does your Heavenly Father have for you to do? Should you set out to swelter through the jungles of Africa; or sail the seven seas on a raft; or climb jagged mountain peaks in China; or hike the Sahara? Well, no one knows but God where your service to Him will lead. The most important thing to which He will hold us accountable is not how well we sing, or how good we preach or even if we give our body to be burned for the cause. What attitude are we called to nurture? …that, out of love for God and man, we work with a humble, obedient servant’s heart, no matter the job He gives us to do.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains…and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (1Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV)
Whether we be a world-renowned evangelist, pastor, teacher, nursing home minister, plumber, or homemaker, in our chores today, in the mundane and the commonplace, may we walk soberly in loving service to those around us as God works His miracle of love in and through our heart…with this little rhyme on our mind:
“Only One Life ‘Twill Soon Be Past. Only What’s Done For Christ Will Last.”
Love in Christ,
Jerry and Dar Johnson