It’s Getting Done

John 3: ²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptised. ²³ Now John also was baptising at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptised. ²⁴ (This was before John was put in prison.) ²⁵ An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶ They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan – the one you testified about – look, he is baptising, and everyone is going to him.’

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Working long hours, I felt exhausted but satisfied. I mean I had everything under control, or so I thought. “Why don’t you let that person do this part of the project now?” my boss said directedly. When the person did their work, I felt a sense of jealousy. They were getting accolades I was used to getting.

• I felt jealous.
• I felt I was losing accolades.
• I felt I was slipping in value.

JESUS and HIS disciples were baptizing people and John “The Baptist’s” disciples questioned why these guys were doing this. They noticed their crowd was getting smaller and smaller and sensed something was wrong, or so they thought.

• GOD wants me to be part of a team who bring people to HIM.
• GOD wants me to see how HE is working through others.
• GOD wants me to praise HIM daily for what HE is doing, especially when someone else is doing it.

As long as it is getting done, who am I to argue. If someone else is serving GOD by serving others, I do not need a pat on the back or an accolade for what I am doing. GOD sees what I am doing as part of HIS plan for all of humanity. HE knows the pie is big. In other words, HE knows the harvest is plenty and the laborers are few. I am glad I am part of GOD’s big picture.

• Are you jealous of someone’s abilities?
• Do you talk bad about someone so you can get praise?
• Will you stop trying to point at yourself and allow GOD to work through others and through you?

Transformed into Greatness

Matthew 11: ¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ Whoever has ears, let them hear.

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A box of awards from various companies sits in a box for non to see. Accolades telling me how “great” I was pale into comparison to what I am going to become.

• Humans declare me “great” because of their sinful lenses.
• Humans defined a measure of “greatness” that only the sinful can achieve.
• Humans have missed the mark in terms of what greatness really is.

Human worship still happens in everyday conversations. People are so stuck on the mishaps of those in the news that no conversation about GOD can pierce the noise. GOD wants something different from me.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIS kingdom in the days where it is weird to speak about JESUS.
• GOD wants me to prophecy about HIS SON, meaning telling people of HIS imminent return.
• GOD wants me to stop waiting for something else to happen and start getting HIS kingdom ready.

John the Baptist was the greatest human to live, next to JESUS, yet John would not even be considered “great” in the kingdom of heaven. When GOD transforms my body into a “kingdom” body, I will be “great.” All my earthly deeds will be checked and measured against how I served GOD by serving humans.

Greatness has a different definition to GOD. Pointing my life towards JESUS is the definition of great to HIM.

• Are you ready for greatness?
• Do you seek the accolades of humans or of GOD?
• Can you stop chasing human affirmation and seek GOD’s kingdom that is under fire around you?

No Announcement Needed

Matthew 6: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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Flipping pages in the program became more and more rapid as I searched for my name. I had given but did not see my name or the amount. “Excuse me!” I stopped someone. “Where is my name?”

• There were times I wanted to be recognized.
• There were times I wanted to be the center of attention.
• There were times I wanted to be noticed because of my giving.

Receiving pats on the back feels really good. I mean having a bunch of people saying “You did well” feels tremendous. BUT GOD wants me to behave a bit different.

• GOD wants me to give to the needy in secret.
• GOD wants me to give with the right motive of giving.
• GOD wants me to give in a way that I will be rewarded by HIM and not by those who will puff me up.

Giving in public sometimes takes the eyes off of the recipient and sadly off of GOD. All of the accolades come towards me, meanwhile no one asks me, “who did you serve and how can I help?” The recipient then thanks “me” and not GOD.

Secret giving enables the recipient to receive something they need, assisting them to focus on GOD as the provider, not me. GOD may have prompted me to take a portion of my wealth and hand it over to those in need and if I am obedient, everyone is rewarded. No accolades needed because GOD is my reward.

• Are you bragging about what you are giving?
• Do you feel you need to tell someone about who or how you are serving in order to get a pat on the back?
• Can you stop seeking accolades and start seeking secret rewards from GOD today?

Collecting Trophies

Ezekiel 28: The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘In the pride of your heart
    you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god
    in the heart of the seas.”
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
    though you think you are as wise as a god.
³ Are you wiser than Daniel?
    Is no secret hidden from you?
⁴ By your wisdom and understanding
    you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
    in your treasuries.
⁵ By your great skill in trading
    you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth
    your heart has grown proud.

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Twelve out of a possible three hundred was my first bowling score, but at the end of the season I was “most improved” and received a trophy. Soon I got accustomed to winning trophies in bowling and wanted trophies in other areas of my life. I received awards in school and moved onto work where I received numerous awards and accolades. “I am all that” I thought to myself. I better go in and demand a raise and promotion. I mean the company would stop without “me.”

• There were times I have bought into the accolades.
• There were times I have believed in “my” abilities.
• There were times I have thought more of myself than I should.

Whenever I believe in the team of “me” I seem to get in trouble. I mean after a while others can’t do things as good as I can. Soon I start thinking they can’t do things right at all. Pride rises before the fall. BUT GOD can head the fall off.

• GOD says to me “I AM willing to forgive you if you turn away from your pride.”
• GOD says to me “I AM your creator.”
• GOD says to me “I AM the ONE who saves, the ONE who has life, the ONE who owns everything.”

“My” abilities are not mine at all, they are simply borrowed like clothes from a neighbor. Any accomplishment I achieve needs to have GOD mentioned. In fact, anything I do needs GOD’s permission; otherwise I will not be successful. GOD can stop my pride as long as I point to HIM.

• Do you have trouble letting others do for you?
• Do you think “that” person cannot do anything right in your eyes?
• Will you stop letting your pride blind you and allow GOD to open your eyes?
• Can you lower your expectations of others and raise your need for GOD higher?
• Will you sop your pride today and humble yourself before GOD?

Planning for the Future

Psalm 61: ¹ Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

² From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
³ For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

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What will they say about me at my funeral? I mean will they say that I worked hard and accumulated a great amount of wealth for myself? Will they say I had a wonderful title at whatever company? I wonder.

• Sometimes I chase pleasing the crowd.
• Sometimes I try to be what everyone else wants me to be.
• Sometimes I live to meet someone else’s expectations.

Getting accolades for being a corporate warrior sounds great on paper. I mean I received status, wealth and a little fame. But GOD called me out of this path and onto a new one. HE woke me up to see people who are in need and desires that I serve them with all my heart, no matter who they are or what they believe.

This is a different calling that leaves no legacy. I mean who will remember getting served or prayed for? With busy lives, people soon forget they received prayer and GOD granted them solitude. At the end of my life I desire more than a legacy.

• At the end of my life I want GOD so say “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
• At the end of my life I want GOD to wipe away my tears and point me to eternity.
• At the end of my life I want GOD to give me rewards that I never would have expected.

David recognized his need for GOD early. In order to be ready for a full life serving GOD, I have to start early. I have to begin dropping off the need to be dependent on the world and relying on GOD for direction and delivery. HE provides and HE has plans for me that are far greater than any I could have for myself. HE is my refuge and leads me to the rock upon which I can build my foundation.

• Are you tired?
• Do you feel you are working yourself to death?
• Have you given GOD a little time this week to serve who HE wants you to serve?
• Are you seeking a legacy to yourself or rewards in heaven?
• Will you serve someone today without the need to get an accolade here on earth?