There was a tiny, little boy who would sit by himself and read the Bible for hours on end when he could have been playing instead with his older brother and sisters. Inside of his heart his love for God was growing and he longed to express it, but there was very little he was capable of doing because he was still very young. But as his love grew so did his desire to serve God in some way. Then he came up with two ideas and said to himself,
“I know. I could collect the hymnals after Church services and mow the lawn at the church too. I'm big enough to do those things!” 😃
And that is what he quietly and faithfully did.
As time passed the little boy grew in stature and abilities. He got a high education and came into several positions of large influence. He walked amongst the highest halls of power and his great knowledge was sought by young and old alike. He spoke on world stages in front of millions of people and never forgot to include Jesus's great “Plan of Salvation”.
When his life on earth was over and he was in Heaven, it came to be his turn at the Bema Seat of Christ.
Jesus motioned him forward and he came and knelt before the Lord. The books that recorded all the deeds of his life were brought forward and read out loud as the Testimony of his life, while all those gathered listened. When this was finished, the Lord bestowed on him an honor so great that those in attendance gasped. The man humbly and gratefully accepted the honor but was puzzled.
Jesus knowing his thoughts asked him,
"What is it that is puzzling you, My child? What do you wish to know?”
The man answered, “This is truly a great reward , Lord, but I'm wondering for what of all of the many things I did in my life are you granting me such a great honor.
Was it for my fight for Religious Freedom?”
“No, Son.”
“”Was it for all the talks I gave at ProLife rallies?”
“No, Son.”
“Was it for creating a huge Grassroots movement that saw large shifts towards the “Christian Ethos” in Government?”
“No, Son.”
“Was it because of all the millions of people who heard the Gospel because I dared to speak it out in a hostile social climate?”
“No, Son. It was for none of those things. I am pleased to give you this mighty reward for collecting the hymnals and mowing the lawn.”
“I still don't understand, Jesus.”
“All those many deeds you accomplished in your strength and abilities and you did them to benefit yourself in some way, but in my mercy and because of my atoning blood I am able to overlook your selfishishness. But when you collected the hymnals and mowed the grass you did it from your pure and unadulterated heart and solely because you loved me and desired to demonstrate your love in some way.”
In Heaven the dynamics are very different to how they work here on earth.
Jesus told us when describing them,
“The last will be first and the first will be last.”
(Matthew 20:16)
You may see, what you perceive, to be great things done by great people but God doesn't view it that way. He sees and records our motivations at the same time as our actions and any and all the things you do solely because you love Jesus, no matter what value the world places on them, is what Jesus will reward you for. And the deeds that seem so mighty in this world's realm will be nothing but chaff to be burned up when we get to Heaven.
Now, go out with joy and with our Master's Peace until we gather again.
The Truth with Love,
Always Laura-Lee 🙂↕️
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace …”
Isaiah 55:12a
Link to all of Isaiah, chapter 55
Remain trustworthy in "little" things.
Link to the "Parable of the Shrewd Manager"
☘️☘️🌹🌹☘️☘️
