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- Written by: Don Goulding
His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:21)
Dani and I had global airline tickets that allowed us to serve whenever and wherever God directed. For one price, we could fly to any itinerary of countries. We began in the fast lanes of China and India, preaching and ministering nearly every day for months. Then we moved into the horse-drawn pace of Eastern Europe.
At first the reprieve was welcome, but I grew restless and prayed, “Lord, show us more ministry opportunities. Where would you have us go next?”
The answer was not what I expected.
“I want you to work on you.”
I spend too many calories seeking God’s direction for my life when the answer lies under my nose, literally. Rather than a ministry of deliverance and miracles, he wants me to reform my own heart. It’s not that I’m more important than those I serve, but I need to work on the plank in my eye before I can see clearly to help others.
Old fashioned stinky pride is at the root of my problem. I choose the glorious easy service of preaching to others, and resist the difficult work of amending my character.
So there I was with time on my hands, time to quit playing around with public revivals and get down to the business of examining the little nasties inside myself. Selfish Schmuck and Jealous Jerk are residents that have yet to convert. That’s where I must preach first, faithful in the small mission field of my own heart.
Prayer: Lord God, don’t give up your work in me.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude … (1 Peter 4:1)
The stove burned my hand, and my lip quivered during the silence before a piercing scream. Years later, Grandmother passed away and left a gaping pit in my soul. Then my career culminated in business debt that plagued me with decades of worry. The lessons of life ingrain an instinctive aversion for suffering.
Then Jesus says, “Lose your life,” “Blessed are those who mourn,” and “My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Those teachings are so counterintuitive that I need Peter to explain. His letter says to arm ourselves with suffering. There must be something strong there, like weapons and munitions.
Ballistic power comes when I give up my attempts to dodge every hurt. If I can accept the fact that life includes a season of misery—always accompanied by strength from God to endure—then preoccupation with pain avoidance no longer owns me. I’m freed to live for the Source of life instead of for comfort.
Peter challenges me to adopt the same attitude as my suffering Lord. He doesn’t mean I should seek a new boulder of misery to move into my life. He only wants me to use whatever stone is already there, lay the plank of dependence squarely over the top, and leverage my heart toward God. The fulcrum presses me into his solace, where there is power for victory over another day.
I dance a jig when I see the enemy’s most hurtful rock forced into the service of lifting me toward the lover of my soul.
Prayer: Lord, may I use trials to move closer to you.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17) (NIV)
Jesus is the source of beauty. Luminous purple nebulas reach through space, and transparent feathery creatures swim in the sea, because the King of beauty made them. A beautiful Creator spoke beautiful worlds into existence.
Ezekiel, Daniel, and John tried to describe their revelations of Jesus on his throne. He was fiery, rainbow shrouded, stallion mounted, and glowing like the sun in its glory. For those already in paradise, Jesus is the center of every fascination. If we’re able to get any words out when we see his face, I’m sure we’ll stammer, “beautiful.”
The tragedy of Jesus redefined perfect beauty. He came from an unflawed existence into our world to perform the most heroic deed in all of history. Though he possessed everything, he lay desecrated under the foot of men. God called this unprecedented humility beautiful when he raised Jesus to the throne at his right hand. The final splendor of the risen Christ is more awesome than the first, because his obedience is proven by voluntary sacrifice.
It’s my destiny to share this new beauty of Jesus. I was made to reflect God’s dignity, but sin got in the way. Body, mind, and spirit were corrupted. I became ugly. Now I have a second chance to follow Jesus into overcomer’s beauty.
Adopt trust in the face of hardship, and that’s beautiful. Give to others when you yourself are hard pressed, and that’s beautiful. Overcomer’s beauty is forged in turmoil. Overcomer’s beauty is what our risen Lord shines from his throne next to God, and it’s what we will share through eternity.
Prayer: Jesus, help me be beautiful as you are beautiful.