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To Be Continued |
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by Tom Gilbert © 2003
Jesus replied, "No one who
puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service
in the kingdom of God."(Luke 9:62)
How is it possible for us to discover the true joy of God’s unconditional
love and mercy and not want to celebrate it everyday? Ah, one of the great mysteries
of the human condition. We all have those up and down days. Sometimes we are
so tired, so beaten down by the hate and violence of our world that it seems
impossible to continue. Yet, continue we must. We must continue daily to live
in union with God’s will.
In my walk I often contemplate how doing the things I must to follow Jesus are
hard and uncomfortable. Who really wants to be humble, meek and a servant to
others’ needs? Who is willing to bite their tongue at the injustice of
the world and the cruelty people inflict on others? Who wants to admit their
faults without rancor, complaining or justification? How do we hold the tension
of our failure with the bright promise of forgiveness, mercy and redemption?
How indeed?
The answer is in the willingness to continue. We have at our disposal all the
tools we need to live as lovers of life. It is only necessary to pick them up
and use them. It is just that easy…and just that hard.
The spiritually advanced have continually
reminded us to persevere. We’re taught to avoid
discouragement and focus on Jesus. To see Christ in
others is always a changing of perspective. Sudden
insight can come in these rare moments, for it is then
that I discover (once again) that the problem is not
so much with the world and others as it is with me.
Maybe you’ve heard what Mother Teresa remarked
when a reporter asked her why she kept on helping the
sick and poor in the face of seemingly insurmountable
odds. The reporter wondered whether it made a difference.
Mother Teresa’s response was that God didn’t
call her to be successful, but to be faithful. Or better
put in another of her quotes: "It is not how much
we do, but how much love we put in the doing.
It is not how much we give, but how much love we put
in the giving."
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A Daily Checklist
Each day we can carry God’s vision of His will for us into our lives by doing some
basic things. Start with gratitude for a new day. Avoid negativity.
Embrace life with enthusiasm and faith. Recreate your
mind with the powerful message that all things are
possible and work for good if we are following the
command to love everyone.
It is not popular to assume responsibility for our thoughts, words and actions. Too many of
us place the blame on others. We play the victim and we refuse
to acknowledge that most of our troubles are of our own making. The change must begin with
each of us. If we continue to live the wrong way we won’t suddenly get different and
better results. To believe this is the Big Lie.
So, we have a choice. We can keep our hands on the plow and not turn back, or we can
waffle and compromise and take back our will. I understand the desire to
complain or to be discouraged when progress seems slow. Often life seems like two steps
forward and three steps back. However, we can always correct our
course. We must adjust our direction to the True North compass setting. Jesus leads the way.
It is up to us to follow. The wonder of it is that Jesus does not leave us behind.
If we have trouble keeping up or wander off He comes looking for us! Then He once
again offers His help through God’s great grace. He’ll even carry us when we cannot
take the next step.
God is constant. His unwavering love is always “to be continued”. The yearning we have for justice
and equality for all is right. It will become possible only when each of us learns the lesson
of continuing to be part of the solution.
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright ©
1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered
trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either
trademark for the offering of goods or services requires
the prior written consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy
Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used
by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton,
IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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PSALM 16:7-9 |
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"I will praise the LORD , who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure."
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(NIV) |
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