More Honest Honors

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(1 Samuel 30:24) ...For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage. They shall share alike.

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David learns his life-lessons well. Had these exhausted men stayed behind to protect their families or had they not remained to behind to protect their travel supplies, their stories would have been much different. Similarly, had the Amelikites cared for their sick Egyptian, their story would have been very different, too. In God's kingdom, the strong care for the weak. They don't ascribe praise and honor to themselves when it belongs to God or should be shared with others.

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Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 describe the equity of the Body of Christ. Although the world spotlights some jobs and accomplishments at the expense of others and it rewards some jobs with praise and honors, this view doesn't fit well in Christ's kingdom. Each task done unto the Lord receives His praise and approval...and in time, His rewards, too.

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Lord, I want to avoid discouragement from not being appreciated as much as I want, and I want to avoid being praised for things I've done with the help of the quiet, more honorable and hard-working servants of yours...which pretty much includes everything I do. May I be content with quiet, humble, and anonymous service.

Whom Am I Protecting?

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(Acts 27:31) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”

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The sailors demonstrated their heartless logic: by abandoning ship, they could survive though everyone else would be doomed. It would be like an airline crew parachuting mid-flight because of a storm. Adam Clarke said, “God promised to save your lives ... on the condition that you make use of every means He has put in your power to help yourselves.” Paul, like in Acts 23:6, employed the soldier-sailor rivalry to expose injustice and to secure righteousness.

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Is there any area in my life where I am sacrificing the well-being of others for my personal advantage? Am I employing all the tools available to me (by God’s providence) to grow in Christ-likeness and to promote His kingdom? From innocent jesting to malicious behavior, does my rivalry with others give opportunity for evil or misunderstanding?

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Lord, thank You for Your necessary high standards. Help me to enjoy life and people in healthy ways. Help me to be a servant more than I am served.

What Do You Want from Jesus?

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The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 5:41-42 (NIV)

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They leave the highest court in Jerusalem, having just been rebuked and beaten, but the apostles are rejoicing. Their joy flows from their conviction that it was an honor to suffer for Jesus. They ignore the rebuke—to stop teaching in Christ's name—and continually minister, both in the place of public worship, and in people's homes.

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I see no attractive message of happiness and success in this passage, only the joy of suffering in holiness and service. I love the parts of the Bible that speak of God's blessings for obedience. I often read into those verses, "happiness and success." But I really need the other parts, the passages that serve up a hearty meal of holiness, suffering, and, joy.

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Dear Lord, please scrub my heart of any un-holy desire for comfort and ease in You. May I rejoice equally in your loving blessings whatever they bring, knowing that sometimes service comes as suffering. I pray that I will testify of Your lovingkindness even in the midst of the worst circumstances.