Horrors of death

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

Last night we watched a fictional crime story in which a female singer was electrocuted in her bath tub. Suspects included her partner who had no motive and was later murdered too, several co-workers with several motives, a five-year-old child that the police could not rule out, and two fans, one so obsessed with the singer that the mother feared she would lose her if the singer moved out of their vicinity, so she killed the singer. I like mysteries, but this one was bizarre and made me wonder what goes through the minds of those who write such stories.

Then I read a newsletter from an organization that seeks freedom for those trapped in slavery, whether it is labor or worse, and how people are being found and released from years of mistreatment. This is real, not fiction, and their workers are motivated by the Holy Spirit.

An app on my phone offers current prayer requests from the workers in an outreach ministry, some for the workers or their families, and most for the success of their labors in reaching the lost for Jesus Christ. 

Many Christians are so horrified by seeing war stories or pictures of the holocaust, or of abortion, or even news on television and might even try to put some of it in that fiction classification because they are not able to cope with the horrors they see. I remember visiting the holocaust Museum in WA and seeing a room filled over 12-18 inches with the shoes of children who were killed in the death chambers in Germany. My mind could not go there and think of the little ones and their suffering. It was too horrible for me.

Piper express the same utter horror about the Holocaust, and babies lost to abortion, yet wonders why many Christians are not equally upset about the reality of sinners perishing in unbelief. Hell is depicted in Scripture as eternal fire. Not trusting God in this life means facing judgment eventually and missing the delights of walking with the Lord in this life. Do I feel the same about the horror of that justice as I do about the unjust treatment of humans by other humans?

Piper expresses these same thoughts. Both of us can only do what we can do. He cannot go to all the unreached peoples of the world with the good news of salvation from sin nor spend all the time he would like writing, speaking, traveling, and agitating for the cause of threatened children or other injustices in this world. Nor can I go beyond my abilities and opportunities. To reach the world for Jesus is far too large a task for any one person. 

The question remains: What shall I do? Again, I agree with Piper… the family of God is also the army of God and not everyone is called to the same battleground. Some plant seeds of faith, others water, or reap. Some preach, or teach, or write. Some feed the hungry, clothe the poor, and most of all, we pray for those who do what we ourselves are not able to do, or not equipped, or not called to do. I’m not in this battle all by myself.

The hard part is that much of what God is doing through His family does not make the regular news. He is busy reaching the lost through the work of unnamed warriors who do what they are told, impressive or seemingly insignificant. I need to remember that He even rewards those who give a cup of cold water in His name.

PRAY: God, You ask this: Which horrors in the world today make me ache the most? Where will I pour myself out in the few years I have before I give an account to You? I know my answers. I also know that each of Your children have a different burden or calling from You. May I support them and never be critical. Even a cup of cold water. . . .  

Tackling the right to-do list

Surveys say that more than half of Bible-believing Christians seldom read it. Personally, I know many Christians who are content with their spiritual lives and not interested in seeking spiritual maturity. They settle into a routine of church on Sunday and giving thanks for meals (sometimes) each day, but exhibit little desire to serve God or be involved in church ministries.

Today’s devotional guide points me to a verse that speaks to my frustration (maybe). It says,

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (Philippians 3:15)

The commentary says that Paul might be speaking sarcastically to those that think they are mature and do not need to “press on” toward spiritual completion. He is telling then that they need to think differently . . .

Or he could be telling me (if I am mature) that I should be trusting God with those who seem lackadaisical in their attitude toward His Word and their own growth. If that is what this means, he is talking to me.

The pastor who wrote this guide says, “I pour my heart out in my messages, but I realize that some of my listeners will continue to live uncommitted lives. When you reach that point with someone you’re ministering to, you just have to ask God to reveal Himself to that individual.”

He is right. Nobody can make another person see God or want God. Only God can draw people to Himself, and although I have experienced it, I have no idea how He does it. When I talk about the glory of God, others might agree enthusiastically, or their eyes just might glaze over. They don’t get it unless God opens their heart to it.

This pastor says that when anyone pursues Christ, they need to depend on divine resources. This includes me. As he says, there are times in my race toward the completion line when I don’t have the proper attitude, and God reveals it to me so I can move on. Otherwise, I cannot see it and am no different from those who concern me because they cannot see it.

Many of the burdens of my heart would not be there if I always remembered what I know. Years ago, I was taking a walk and praying. I was concerned about many things and mulling them over as I prayed. Then God spoke to me, not in an audible voice, but I knew what came into my head was from Him. He said, “Get out of my to-do list.”

At the time, I burst into laughter. He nailed it. I was struggling to figure out ways to do things that only God can do. When it comes to spiritual maturity, I cannot make that happen in myself, much less anyone else.

My concerns are valid and I know I need to pray for those who are not growing, but at the same time, they are God’s children and it is His job to raise them, not mine. Again, I need to make sure I’m not in His to-do list; my own is enough of a challenge!