Corona Devo 3188
Don't mind the mess today...and--what's at the heart of it?
The other day, it was just after 7 A.M., and I popped my head out our backdoor, which leads into our garage, and said good-bye to one of my people leaving for the day. Two had already left for school, another was getting ready, and my husband was leaving to begin his morning walk. I waved to encourage him, and as he disappeared from the driveway I lingered for a moment in the quiet, just staring.
When I refocused my eyes and myself, I saw an inflatable cactus resting in the mess of our garage, and it made me realize: there will be messiness in the ministry of life, and that's just fine.
~~~
What is our ministry today? Where, how, and to whom are we living-out faith? Who are we sharing God's Word and Law with?
The inflatable cactus propped up in the (organized) chaos of our garage seemed to smile back at me and say, "It's okay when things aren't perfect."
And Friends, it is okay when things are not perfect, because they won't always be, and it is a farce to believe otherwise.
WE don't have to be perfect, and we can't be.
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... ~Romans 3:23
Only God and His Son, Jesus are perfect, and their holiness and perfection is all that we have to go on. And it's enough.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (25) For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. ~Romans 3:24-25
And beyond our imperfections, there will be messiness in the business of a life lived for the Lord. The reality of people/circumstances/day-to-day operations/and relationships is that--they are messy, imperfect, and flawed (and so are we!), but our faith and our God allow us the strength and love to work through things and to shine and share for Christ.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” ~I Peter 4:8
~~~
Thanks to my husband, our garage is organized, but I will also be the first to admit that it is organized chaos by most definitions.
And that's just fine.
Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes by the strength of an ox. ~Proverbs 14:4
Can we catch the drift of what God teaches us in this Proverb?
The trough or stall is clean/presentable/aesthetic when it's empty...but what can an empty stall produce?
A dirty (oxen) trough means the reality of daily feedings, watering, messes...and poop. These realities are requirements that come with oxen.
The reality and requirements that exist within our lives and situations and relationships with co-workers and teammates and family...will be messy at times. ...Will involve chaos sometimes. ...Will involve poop at times.
...but much increase comes by the strength of an ox. ~Proverbs 14:4
Without the strain of life there is no outcome in life, and the sooner we realize and accept that messes come with living life, the sooner we will enter-in fully to the lives that God has ordained for us to live for Him and His glory.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~John 10:10
Embrace the chaos today. Let's live life to the full and realize nothing (and no one) is perfect.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. ~Proverbs 17:22
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33
Allow the Bible (God's Word) to smile back at us through the messes in our life. God knows us and loves us and reminds us:"It's okay when things aren't perfect."
If our stones are gathered today-that's okay.
There will be messiness in the ministry of life, and that's just fine.
There is a time for everything... (5) a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them... ~Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5
Comments
Post a Comment