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- Written by: Don Goulding
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea. (Matthew 18:6)
God is dangerously protective of children. I didn’t want to mislead any of the eight hundred black-haired cherubs who sat crosslegged before our stage at a primary school in Ranipet, India. They nested against each other in a long narrow room—rows of bright eyes amidst a sea of blue gingham uniforms. The pure face energy put me beneath God’s throne and I knew without a doubt he guarded these innocents.
Our evangelism team leader concluded the program with an invitation to receive Christ.
“Stand if you want Jesus,” he shouted. “One, two, three.”
Every head jerked about to see what they were supposed to do. At first, no one stood. Then, after more translation, everybody stood. The principal told them all to sit while another teacher tried to get only those who wanted Jesus to stand. But it was a Christian school and they all wanted Jesus, or already had him, and still wanted him, so were they to stand or sit?
I was transported to the throne room and felt heaven’s mirth at our situation.
Jesus paid a horrific price at the cross to save us from consternation over the right way to return to God. Stand for Jesus, say a prayer, turn around three times—it doesn’t matter, as long as we come through Jesus. To say otherwise is to doubt Christ’s sufficiency and ability to see into the heart.
The sublime reality is that God is holding a wide-open Jesus fest and every humble soul is welcome.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from the sin of complicating the gospel.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,
lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up. (Proverbs 25:16)
As we dined on New York steaks with furloughed missionaries to Mozambique and Tibet, the conversation turned to strange baths we’ve had in remote places.
“We don’t usually get a bath but every few weeks. I like it when I can get it, but I’m okay doing without,” a Tibetan missionary said.
Her attitude is vital to a true missionary spirit. God gives special grace to endure hardships while in his service, but we have to go into it with the understanding that the rescue of human hearts is more important than our creature comforts. I think I’ll make that my motto—I like it when I can get it, but I’m okay doing without. It fits most everything in the world.
In Zimbabwe, Dani and I were privileged to have dinner with orphans. The staple is cornmeal mush called sudza. Try as we might, we couldn’t master the African technique of rolling sudza balls so all the bits remained intact. The children giggled as the paste covered our hands and worked its way up our wrists.
The good things of the earth are sticky. They are provided for our sustenance and enjoyment. Yet, if not handled correctly, bits and pieces adhere to our soul and make a mess of us. Everything from food, to money and sports, to family, must be enjoyed within the context of declaring God’s glory. I have to continually roll each gift in thanksgiving or it will begin to stick until I can no longer say, “I like it when I can get it, but I’m okay doing without.”
There is only one thing I can’t live without and that is the Spirit of Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, my everything, help me enjoy your gifts and remain clean.
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- Written by: Don Goulding
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well … (Luke 6:27-29)
The one called Faithful and True rode a magnificent white stallion. I wanted to enter Christian ministry, so a white horse was given to me also. Its name was Love. I rode behind the King as he trampled injustice and comforted the oppressed. Joy awoke in my heart.
Christian coworkers came alongside and I was thrilled at the camaraderie. I hailed and they returned greetings. Then one of the smiling riders knocked me to the ground.
What was that? I wasn’t perfect, but still, the coworker was on a white horse, the same as mine. I nursed my aches and muttered, “Why?”
Jesus drew up his steed and chuckled. Did that laugh mean this was some kind of game in which friends attacked friends?
A bit wary, I remounted and tried to stay close behind my Master’s great stallion. More white horsed riders came alongside, grinning. I trusted them and was yet again unhorsed, thrown to the mud.
I am slowly acquiring the secrets of Christian ministry. To some, it is a game. They try to steal the place of honor close to the King by knocking others down.
To Jesus, ministry is fun, but it is no game, and it has rules.
Rule #1—riding close to Jesus is a primary objective. It yields spoils of great honor in eternity.
Rule #2—Unhorsing another rider disqualifies rewards earned under rule one.
Rule #3—The greatest of all prizes goes to those who are knocked down, then forgive, remount, and ride again.
Prayer: Conquering Savior, help me forgive and never retaliate.