All I've Got

In John Bunyan's book, The Pilgrim's Progress, the characters are given names that define who they are. Christian, Help, Evangelist, Faithful, Hopeful are a few. A good friend of mine recently asked me, "If you could put one name on your life, what would it be?" It took me a while.

Among other things, I desire to be Resourceful. I want to use all that I've been given to bring glory to God. Isn't it the least I can do for my God Who has promised me forgiveness for all that I make a mess of, and eternal life filled with joy and love and peace and all good things? I want to be resourceful with my days, my words, my thoughts, my actions. He deserves my best.

What if today is the day you take your final breath? Nobody knows how many breaths God has planned for us to breathe. Are you living today the way you would if you knew it was the last? How about this week? Did you spend your time wisely? Did you seek The Lord's direction and follow it? Have you sat at Jesus' feet long enough to hear His heart? To simply adore Him like Mary did so often? Have you loved the unlovely? Shown grace to those who deserve it least? Have you worshiped the Lord outside of the Sanctuary? Beyond Sunday morning? Have you used your words in a way that would encourage and build up? These are the kinds of things I want to fill my days with.

I've been reading much about the kings of Israel. What a shame it is to read of some great men who followed the Lord, and blew it at the end of their lives. Asa, and Josiah are just two of the kings who lived rich, full lives, transforming their nation for the Lord. Unfortunately, both of them refused to listen to the Lord at the end of their lives and died tragic deaths.

I want desperately to live honorably to the end. That I might finish my course with joy. It's a day by day, moment by moment choice of action. I know I can not earn my way to heaven by living this way. It is by GRACE I have been saved. But God has commanded us that whatever we do, do it heartily for the Lord, that He might get the glory. He's worthy of it all.