There is an old saying that says, “Time flies when you’re having fun” and today, I truly know exactly what that means. I still find it hard to believe that just 20 years ago today, at approximately 5:30 P.M., the most wonderful woman in the world agreed to be by wife…and she vowed that in front of witnesses!!!!!
I can still see her standing in the doorway of the parlor in the John Rutledge House Inn in Charleston, SC; bouquet in hand, as I sang “And I Love You So” to a copied cassette of the music. Sitting all around the parlor were our families and a few of our closest friends as we pledged to be faithful through the ups and downs of the years that lay before us…..neither of us with the faintest clue of the joys and the heartaches we would share together.
Yes, we have laughed; abundantly, uproariously and without containment …and we have cried; when our two hearts seemed to break as one; but through it all, we have grown stronger as we have held to the scripture in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
This has been the BEST TWENTY YEARS OF MY LIFE (and the fastest) and I can only trust and believe that God has even more wonderful surprises in store for my beautiful bride and me….so as we celebrate this special day in our lives, we covet your prayers ….And we thank each of you that has been involved in our lives for helping make our marriage an everlasting tribute to our Heavenly Father and His blessing for these past twenty years.
I want to tell my darling wife, in no uncertain terms, that she is the Love of my Life and I am eternally grateful to our Heavenly Father for His unspeakable gift of her as my wife…I am truly, BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE…to you, Teresa, I dedicate the following :
My Tribute To My Wife
Was it not but yesterday with pretty flowers and lovely lace;
You walked down the wedding aisle; beside me, you took your place.
Hand in hand, with longing eyes, our vows we would speak
And I thought I would falter for my knees were oh so weak.
But in that moment, as I looked at you, how my heart began to race;
As I thanked my Heavenly Father for His goodness and His grace.
For of all of the women He might choose to start my life anew;
He chose for me, the perfect bride….His perfect choice was YOU!
So, we pledged our love and faithfulness on that joyous wedding day
As arm is arm, we began our life in a new and special way;
Committed to each other and to our Father up above,
We began our new life’s journey, grounded in His love.
For we knew not what lay ahead; what waited around life’s bend;
But I knew that it mattered not for I had married my best friend.
My lover and my confidant; the encourager of my soul….
My special gift from heaven that completes and makes me whole.
Oh, how the years have rushed by as each takes its measured toll;
But hand in hand, we journey on; strengthened body, mind and soul.
For our Father has been so good to us in each arena of our life
And blessed this special union …you and me as Man and Wife.
So while I still have life and breath, let each speak this message true;
May all I am or ever hope to be … May I dedicate to You.
For should God grant me 40 years or just one more day to be,
I want to spend each moment ….Together… You and Me.
For if I should get to heaven, just ahead of you;
I offer you this simple plan; here’s what you should do…
Just walk right in, look to your right and in the midst of Heaven’s charms;
You will find me waiting with wide-open, loving arms.
HAPPY TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY
TERESA LEE QUEEN
W. Patrick Queen @ February 2010
If you are as blessed as me, then take a moment today to tell your wife that she is your gift from God …and then, make SURE you treat her accordingly.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Us…..And God Bless each of you in your marriage,
WPQ
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Enlarging Your Territory
In a chapter in the Old Testament where the writer is listing the descendants of Judah, there is a brief mention of one of Judah’s relatives…a man by the name of Jabez. In I Chronicles 4:9-10, we read,
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the name of the God of Israel, saying. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory, and that your hand would be with me and that you would keep me from evil so that it might not bring me pain. And God granted what he asked.” (English Standard Version)
Did you catch that last part…..God granted his request!!! Why was this man so special in the eyes of God? How can we achieve that same dominion in the eyes of our Creator?
Well, first, he was an honorable man…more honorable than any of his brothers and most likely, more honorable than anyone in the surrounding community. He must have understood what God required of him and was a very responsible and considerate person. He truly sought to serve the Lord and to honor him in everything he did….thus, the reason for the first part of his bold request… God’s blessing of enlarging his territory.
He knew that God would not give him more if he were not thankful for that which he already had. Also, how could God entrust him with more if he were not already a good and faithful steward of the blessings that were currently his. The only reason God will enlarge a person’s territory is if He believes that person will use it responsibly to bring glory to God and to enlarge the Kingdom of the Most High.
So, if you’ve been petitioning our heavenly Father for greater blessings and a larger, more fruitful territory ….the question is quite simple…..ARE YOU BRINGING HONOR TO GOD IN ALL YOU DO?
Before you move on to greater endeavors for the Lord, you might want to stop and ask your self these questions ….
Am I bringing honor to my God through my words and my deeds?
Am I causing pain…harm…promoting evil in my relationships?
Am I thankful for the blessings that I have already received?
Am I using the resources that I currently have to expand the work of the Lord?
Am I responsible for my actions and their results?
Am I using my influence to bring others to Christ?
Take some real, quality time to search your soul as you answer these questions….and if you believe that you can answer in the affirmative in all these areas, then, you can precede with the final part of the prayer of Jabez….for a life that is free from pain.
In fact, in all my studies in the Bible, I do not recall anyone else who was spared the pains of life…save this one ordinary man with his extraordinary prayer….
So …..Pray the prayer of this humble man …live as he lived before his God ….and you too may live a life of enlarged territories …full of blessings and free from harm.
Expanding the Kingdom…living for the Lord,
WPQ
“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the name of the God of Israel, saying. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory, and that your hand would be with me and that you would keep me from evil so that it might not bring me pain. And God granted what he asked.” (English Standard Version)
Did you catch that last part…..God granted his request!!! Why was this man so special in the eyes of God? How can we achieve that same dominion in the eyes of our Creator?
Well, first, he was an honorable man…more honorable than any of his brothers and most likely, more honorable than anyone in the surrounding community. He must have understood what God required of him and was a very responsible and considerate person. He truly sought to serve the Lord and to honor him in everything he did….thus, the reason for the first part of his bold request… God’s blessing of enlarging his territory.
He knew that God would not give him more if he were not thankful for that which he already had. Also, how could God entrust him with more if he were not already a good and faithful steward of the blessings that were currently his. The only reason God will enlarge a person’s territory is if He believes that person will use it responsibly to bring glory to God and to enlarge the Kingdom of the Most High.
So, if you’ve been petitioning our heavenly Father for greater blessings and a larger, more fruitful territory ….the question is quite simple…..ARE YOU BRINGING HONOR TO GOD IN ALL YOU DO?
Before you move on to greater endeavors for the Lord, you might want to stop and ask your self these questions ….
Am I bringing honor to my God through my words and my deeds?
Am I causing pain…harm…promoting evil in my relationships?
Am I thankful for the blessings that I have already received?
Am I using the resources that I currently have to expand the work of the Lord?
Am I responsible for my actions and their results?
Am I using my influence to bring others to Christ?
Take some real, quality time to search your soul as you answer these questions….and if you believe that you can answer in the affirmative in all these areas, then, you can precede with the final part of the prayer of Jabez….for a life that is free from pain.
In fact, in all my studies in the Bible, I do not recall anyone else who was spared the pains of life…save this one ordinary man with his extraordinary prayer….
So …..Pray the prayer of this humble man …live as he lived before his God ….and you too may live a life of enlarged territories …full of blessings and free from harm.
Expanding the Kingdom…living for the Lord,
WPQ
Monday, February 22, 2010
New Day Just Ahead....
I want to ask you to do me a special favor that, for the large part, should be painless. I want you to change your way of thinking….now, before you go off the deep in, take a deep breath and listen to my proposal.
From the beginning of creation, God has had a specific way of considering the 24 hours that make up a day. From His word we read in Genesis 1:5, “and the evening and the morning were the first day.” Did you catch that?
You and I don’t think that way, do we? We see it just the opposite. A day is the morning followed by the evening….always has been, always will be….and that’s what requires a change of thinking on our part.
There is always a wonderful truth embedded in even the smallest scripture …if we are only willing to take a good look. If we could but see our days as God sees them….first the evening followed by the morning, what a difference that could make.
We would then spend each evening contemplating and meditating on the activities and responsibilities that God will set before us in the morning….and then spend time asking Him for His guidance and blessing upon all that He wants us to accomplish for Him and His kingdom. Then, as we place our head on our pillows, we are free to experience a full night’s rest as we give everything to Him. We can sleep in the full assurance that He is in complete control and we can lay aside the worries and cares that beset us after a day of hurried activities.
David, the psalmist wrote, “Weeping may endure for the night, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!” Psalm 30:5 Why not change your thinking in this area of your life and experience the joy that is yours each new day…..
Let me know if seeing each day the way God sees it works for you….it only takes a moment to change your mind.
Enjoying the new day and all its promise,
WPQ
Poem for the New Day....
I want you to change your thinking;
To try a better way.
For evening precedes the morning
In the start of each new day.
So trust your Heavenly Father
In each step along life's way;
For He is there to greet you
At the start of each new day.
He walks each step beside you
And keeps you safe from harm;
And if you should stumble
He takes you in His arms....
He wipes away each tear that falls;
His peace He gives to you.
For at the start of each new day
His mercy will see you through.
WPQ @February 2010
From the beginning of creation, God has had a specific way of considering the 24 hours that make up a day. From His word we read in Genesis 1:5, “and the evening and the morning were the first day.” Did you catch that?
You and I don’t think that way, do we? We see it just the opposite. A day is the morning followed by the evening….always has been, always will be….and that’s what requires a change of thinking on our part.
There is always a wonderful truth embedded in even the smallest scripture …if we are only willing to take a good look. If we could but see our days as God sees them….first the evening followed by the morning, what a difference that could make.
We would then spend each evening contemplating and meditating on the activities and responsibilities that God will set before us in the morning….and then spend time asking Him for His guidance and blessing upon all that He wants us to accomplish for Him and His kingdom. Then, as we place our head on our pillows, we are free to experience a full night’s rest as we give everything to Him. We can sleep in the full assurance that He is in complete control and we can lay aside the worries and cares that beset us after a day of hurried activities.
David, the psalmist wrote, “Weeping may endure for the night, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!” Psalm 30:5 Why not change your thinking in this area of your life and experience the joy that is yours each new day…..
Let me know if seeing each day the way God sees it works for you….it only takes a moment to change your mind.
Enjoying the new day and all its promise,
WPQ
Poem for the New Day....
I want you to change your thinking;
To try a better way.
For evening precedes the morning
In the start of each new day.
So trust your Heavenly Father
In each step along life's way;
For He is there to greet you
At the start of each new day.
He walks each step beside you
And keeps you safe from harm;
And if you should stumble
He takes you in His arms....
He wipes away each tear that falls;
His peace He gives to you.
For at the start of each new day
His mercy will see you through.
WPQ @February 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
...Or a Roof Repairer?
When we left our story yesterday, we stood in the crowd and parted a way for the lame man, as he rolled up his mat and walked home to an elated family. We clapped and exclaimed that never had we seen such a miracle as we shook our heads in amazement and then, we went back to our busy lives…unsettled but not unchanged!
Maybe, before we departed, we paused and looked up into that gaping hole in the roof and wondered, “Who’s going to fix that hole that’s left behind? I’m sure glad this isn’t my house.”
Now, we can be sure it would not be the learned scholars and scribes….they were too busy criticizing Jesus for His methods; for surely, they would never have told such a man that his sins were forgiven and Jesus had no right to do that either. This was not the way things were to be done in the religious realm in Capernaum.
It was not going to be the four men that had brought their lame friend to Jesus. They had already gone above and beyond their call to duty…used up their concern and compassion and had seen the glorious outcome wrought by their unselfish deed. Surely, the work of patching the roof should be done by someone else?
What about the enamored people that stood outside the house….clapping and cheering; caught up in the excitement of this unforgettable moment? These onsite onlookers were just there for the show and they hung around to see if anything else was about to happen; if not, they would move on looking for the next thrill, for they were curiosity seekers…not Christ seekers. For them it was all about the miracle…not the Master!
Then, there were the fortunate few that had actually been up close and personal with Jesus…they had a front-row seat to the action and this wonderful miracle had occurred right before their eyes. But, they could not be bothered to accomplish such a menial task as fixing a hole in the roof. In fact, in their arrogance of proximity, they had not been willing to make a hole through the crowd that would allow the men to come through the front door, but rather forced them to resort to digging a hole in the roof. If they were so unwilling to step aside and allow the men to enter the house in the first place, then they would certainly be unwilling to fix the roof.
So my question for you…..into which group do you fall…the religious naysayers; the “diggers” of the hole; the thrill-seeking onlookers or the front-row followers….all willing participants in the moment of the miracle but not the restitution of the roof. So who would be a roof repairer you ask….someone that serves Jesus because of who He is rather than what He has done or will do.
The person that dons the work clothes and climbs up on the roof after all the crowds are gone is the one who is the embodiment of faithfulness, loyalty and duty to the task. When the cheers have subsided, this person picks up the tools of the trade and gets their hands dirty doing the work that no one else wants to do….keeping the church parking lot clean or driving the church bus every Sunday; working in the soup kitchen, peeling onions or preparing the next meal; taking a home-cooked meal to a shut-in or tending to the toddlers every Sunday in Sunday School….the list goes on and so do the people that have learned that the cross comes before the crown. They have learned there are no small jobs for God…only small people with a big God…and with Him, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Christ told us that “whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matthew 16:25) and Paul taught us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Across this country and around the globe, there are people with little talent doing little jobs to advance the kingdom of God ….how about you? Are you a Hole Maker or a Roof Repairer …are you working to bring God’s kingdom to those around you?
I pray that with an open and honest heart you can say, “Lord, here am I. Send me to do the job that you need done, today!’
AMEN,
WPQ
Poem for the Day:
Whatever task God has given you
Be filled with holy zest;
For when you’re working for the Lord
He expects your very best!
.
All of you, our Lord requires.
It’s what He asks of you;
For He gave all that He could give…
Nothing less from you will do.
wpq@2001
Maybe, before we departed, we paused and looked up into that gaping hole in the roof and wondered, “Who’s going to fix that hole that’s left behind? I’m sure glad this isn’t my house.”
Now, we can be sure it would not be the learned scholars and scribes….they were too busy criticizing Jesus for His methods; for surely, they would never have told such a man that his sins were forgiven and Jesus had no right to do that either. This was not the way things were to be done in the religious realm in Capernaum.
It was not going to be the four men that had brought their lame friend to Jesus. They had already gone above and beyond their call to duty…used up their concern and compassion and had seen the glorious outcome wrought by their unselfish deed. Surely, the work of patching the roof should be done by someone else?
What about the enamored people that stood outside the house….clapping and cheering; caught up in the excitement of this unforgettable moment? These onsite onlookers were just there for the show and they hung around to see if anything else was about to happen; if not, they would move on looking for the next thrill, for they were curiosity seekers…not Christ seekers. For them it was all about the miracle…not the Master!
Then, there were the fortunate few that had actually been up close and personal with Jesus…they had a front-row seat to the action and this wonderful miracle had occurred right before their eyes. But, they could not be bothered to accomplish such a menial task as fixing a hole in the roof. In fact, in their arrogance of proximity, they had not been willing to make a hole through the crowd that would allow the men to come through the front door, but rather forced them to resort to digging a hole in the roof. If they were so unwilling to step aside and allow the men to enter the house in the first place, then they would certainly be unwilling to fix the roof.
So my question for you…..into which group do you fall…the religious naysayers; the “diggers” of the hole; the thrill-seeking onlookers or the front-row followers….all willing participants in the moment of the miracle but not the restitution of the roof. So who would be a roof repairer you ask….someone that serves Jesus because of who He is rather than what He has done or will do.
The person that dons the work clothes and climbs up on the roof after all the crowds are gone is the one who is the embodiment of faithfulness, loyalty and duty to the task. When the cheers have subsided, this person picks up the tools of the trade and gets their hands dirty doing the work that no one else wants to do….keeping the church parking lot clean or driving the church bus every Sunday; working in the soup kitchen, peeling onions or preparing the next meal; taking a home-cooked meal to a shut-in or tending to the toddlers every Sunday in Sunday School….the list goes on and so do the people that have learned that the cross comes before the crown. They have learned there are no small jobs for God…only small people with a big God…and with Him, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
Christ told us that “whoever loses his life for me will find it.”(Matthew 16:25) and Paul taught us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Across this country and around the globe, there are people with little talent doing little jobs to advance the kingdom of God ….how about you? Are you a Hole Maker or a Roof Repairer …are you working to bring God’s kingdom to those around you?
I pray that with an open and honest heart you can say, “Lord, here am I. Send me to do the job that you need done, today!’
AMEN,
WPQ
Poem for the Day:
Whatever task God has given you
Be filled with holy zest;
For when you’re working for the Lord
He expects your very best!
.
All of you, our Lord requires.
It’s what He asks of you;
For He gave all that He could give…
Nothing less from you will do.
wpq@2001
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Are You a Hole-Maker...
One of my favorite stories in the New Testament is found in the second chapter of Mark in the first twelve verses…the story of the paralytic and his four friends.
Now, these men all heard that Jesus had returned to Capernaum and could be found in a nearby home; they were eager to see him for they had heard the stories that were circulating regarding his healings in the region of Galilee. But, their eagerness was not for themselves but for their friend who laid confined in his paralyzed condition. So, in a spirit of love and compassion for their stricken friend and in a unified body of cooperation, each of the four grabbed a corner of his pallet and they took off to see Jesus. They believed if they could just get in front of Jesus, He would heal their friend.
When they got to their destination, the house was filled to overflowing and they could not get in to see Jesus; but rather than return home, rejected and disappointed, they devised a plan that would bring the house down…or at least the roof. Climbing up the steps on the side of the house, they laid their friend aside and began digging through the roof until they had a hole big enough to lower their friend down in front of Jesus. Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2: 5 and then in Mark 2:11-12, “He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home.” He got up, took up his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” NIV Translation
So what are some of the poignant precepts we can glean from this wonderful story?
Well, first and foremost, it took cooperation and sacrifice to get the paralytic man to Jesus. Each friend had to do his part; set aside petty differences and preferences; cooperate for the welfare of another and lay aside any selfish motive or desire to see Jesus for their own gain. Next, when confronted with the large crowd, each man determined not to be deterred from their original mission…to see Jesus heal their friend. This took thinking outside the box and the will and determination to get their hands dirty. And last, but certainly not least, was the resolute belief that Jesus was the only answer for their friend…only Jesus could restore their friend’s health. Even though the throng held them back, their priority was to get their friend to Jesus.
They didn’t stop to make excuses that the crowd was too big…it just wasn’t in the cards for their friend to be healed …or that opening a hole in the roof would certainly break up the service and have the whole town talking about how rude they were to disturb the Teacher….they had but one priority…to see Jesus heal their friend….and looking down from the lofty rooftop, that’s exactly what they got to see…. as their long-time paralytic friend rolled up his mat and then made his way through the parting crowd.
Are you a hole-make when it comes to Jesus? Are you looking for ways to bring your sin-crippled friends to Jesus so that they may be forever healed and made holy by His shed blood? Are you willing to set aside your agenda and think and do to bring others to Christ? Are you willing to be laughed at or thought to be different because you will make a way when there seems to be no way to lead others to the Savior?
You just have to have a willing heart ….God will take care of the rest….as you trust in Him and follow the leading of His Spirit…. And that only leaves one problem;
WHO’S GOING TO FIX THAT HOLE IN THE ROOF…..Come back tomorrow and hear the rest of the story.
Dirty Hands Means a Helping Heart,
WPQ
Now, these men all heard that Jesus had returned to Capernaum and could be found in a nearby home; they were eager to see him for they had heard the stories that were circulating regarding his healings in the region of Galilee. But, their eagerness was not for themselves but for their friend who laid confined in his paralyzed condition. So, in a spirit of love and compassion for their stricken friend and in a unified body of cooperation, each of the four grabbed a corner of his pallet and they took off to see Jesus. They believed if they could just get in front of Jesus, He would heal their friend.
When they got to their destination, the house was filled to overflowing and they could not get in to see Jesus; but rather than return home, rejected and disappointed, they devised a plan that would bring the house down…or at least the roof. Climbing up the steps on the side of the house, they laid their friend aside and began digging through the roof until they had a hole big enough to lower their friend down in front of Jesus. Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2: 5 and then in Mark 2:11-12, “He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take up your mat and go home.” He got up, took up his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” NIV Translation
So what are some of the poignant precepts we can glean from this wonderful story?
Well, first and foremost, it took cooperation and sacrifice to get the paralytic man to Jesus. Each friend had to do his part; set aside petty differences and preferences; cooperate for the welfare of another and lay aside any selfish motive or desire to see Jesus for their own gain. Next, when confronted with the large crowd, each man determined not to be deterred from their original mission…to see Jesus heal their friend. This took thinking outside the box and the will and determination to get their hands dirty. And last, but certainly not least, was the resolute belief that Jesus was the only answer for their friend…only Jesus could restore their friend’s health. Even though the throng held them back, their priority was to get their friend to Jesus.
They didn’t stop to make excuses that the crowd was too big…it just wasn’t in the cards for their friend to be healed …or that opening a hole in the roof would certainly break up the service and have the whole town talking about how rude they were to disturb the Teacher….they had but one priority…to see Jesus heal their friend….and looking down from the lofty rooftop, that’s exactly what they got to see…. as their long-time paralytic friend rolled up his mat and then made his way through the parting crowd.
Are you a hole-make when it comes to Jesus? Are you looking for ways to bring your sin-crippled friends to Jesus so that they may be forever healed and made holy by His shed blood? Are you willing to set aside your agenda and think and do to bring others to Christ? Are you willing to be laughed at or thought to be different because you will make a way when there seems to be no way to lead others to the Savior?
You just have to have a willing heart ….God will take care of the rest….as you trust in Him and follow the leading of His Spirit…. And that only leaves one problem;
WHO’S GOING TO FIX THAT HOLE IN THE ROOF…..Come back tomorrow and hear the rest of the story.
Dirty Hands Means a Helping Heart,
WPQ
Monday, February 15, 2010
The Silence of the Lamb
There was a graphic movie by this title several years ago that spoke to the sinful nature of man; but today, I want us to look at the life of our Lord and Savior …and understand His silence in service.
In scripture, Mark 7: 33-36, we read of Jesus and his disciples, traveling through the region of Tyre, when a man that is deaf and has a speech impediment is brought to Jesus. “And they begged Him to lay His hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears and after spitting, touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue released and he spoke plainly. But Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.”
Did you see that? In this miracle, as well as many others recorded in the Bible, Jesus sought anonymity….He stepped away from the crowd to perform the healing and then instructed those that witnessed the healing to tell NO ONE…. HE WAS SILENT IN HIS SERVICE!!!!
Now, surely these miracles from Heaven deserved center-stage; they deserved the spotlight of admiration and celebration; but Jesus did not come for this….He came to seek and to serve and to save the lost…..and He left us behind to continue His ministry.
So, the next time that you step out to do a good work…do it in silence and in secret, if possible….and let Jesus, the Lamb of God, receive the praise and adoration for your sacrificial service. What better way to honor Him who gave His all for you than to serve Him in silence …with no thought of who gets the credit or reaps the reward.
Practice service in silence lest you fall into the trap of the Pharisees and the hypocrites. Strive to follow Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6:1-4, “Beware of practicing your righteousness (or serving; my translation) before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give (serve) to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving (serving) may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The more we practice serving our Savior in silence, the more He will be honored and the more glory His work, through us, will receive. It is our calling to follow the Master in service and we can show Him no greater love than to serve Him in silence ….to follow the example of the silence of the Lamb of God.
Today, look for that quiet, silent opportunity to serve God….and let Him receive ALL the credit for your service to others.
Seeking to serve…in stealth-mode,
WPQ
In scripture, Mark 7: 33-36, we read of Jesus and his disciples, traveling through the region of Tyre, when a man that is deaf and has a speech impediment is brought to Jesus. “And they begged Him to lay His hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, He put His fingers into his ears and after spitting, touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue released and he spoke plainly. But Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more He charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.”
Did you see that? In this miracle, as well as many others recorded in the Bible, Jesus sought anonymity….He stepped away from the crowd to perform the healing and then instructed those that witnessed the healing to tell NO ONE…. HE WAS SILENT IN HIS SERVICE!!!!
Now, surely these miracles from Heaven deserved center-stage; they deserved the spotlight of admiration and celebration; but Jesus did not come for this….He came to seek and to serve and to save the lost…..and He left us behind to continue His ministry.
So, the next time that you step out to do a good work…do it in silence and in secret, if possible….and let Jesus, the Lamb of God, receive the praise and adoration for your sacrificial service. What better way to honor Him who gave His all for you than to serve Him in silence …with no thought of who gets the credit or reaps the reward.
Practice service in silence lest you fall into the trap of the Pharisees and the hypocrites. Strive to follow Christ’s teaching in Matthew 6:1-4, “Beware of practicing your righteousness (or serving; my translation) before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give (serve) to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving (serving) may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
The more we practice serving our Savior in silence, the more He will be honored and the more glory His work, through us, will receive. It is our calling to follow the Master in service and we can show Him no greater love than to serve Him in silence ….to follow the example of the silence of the Lamb of God.
Today, look for that quiet, silent opportunity to serve God….and let Him receive ALL the credit for your service to others.
Seeking to serve…in stealth-mode,
WPQ
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