Welcome back. The previous time we
discussed the significance of your task. In the eyes of the world
your presence here on earth might seem insignificant, but don't
believe that lie. Every action of yours has an impact, and it could
have a wonderful impact on someone if you act according to the Word
of God. As I said there were a number of 'unsung' heroes in the
Bible that did their part. They never became famous, but I can
promise you that the Lord was very pleased with them. I am going to
discuss a number of these examples now.
One such example is Jason. I have
read Acts a couple of times and this morning was the first time I
actually read Jason's name (you know how we sometimes read over
'unimportant' names). I paused for a second and contemplated what
he did. He was a believer in Thessalonica, who started to believe
in Christ after Paul and Silas preached to them. He opened his home
to them and hosted them there. In this way he helped them in being
able to perform their task of preaching God's Word in Thessalonica.
And when the Jewish leaders became jealous of Paul and Silas's
success in Thessalonica and also the fact that they can perform
miracles and heal the sick, they incited a mob against them and
started a riot. They attacked the home of Jason and dragged him and
other believers in front of the city council. After a hearing they
were released on bail. Now think about what happened here. Jason
tried to help Paul and Silas and make their mission more bearable
and more comfortable for them. And here his home was attacked and
he must have feared for his life. He must have gone through a
terrible time even after Paul and Silas left, as his fellow
countrymen were angry at him for hosting these two. But the Lord
knew what he did. He faithfully played his part in helping to
spread the gospel. He was faithful with the little God has
entrusted him with and the Lord will award him for it. He was not
the famous Paul who spread the gospel over the known world of that
day, but he helped Paul to be able to continue with his important
task.
The same goes for Luke. Now Luke is
famous today as he wrote one of the gospels that we have in our
Bible today, as well as Acts. But when he lived he wasn't as famous
as Paul, Peter, James etc. He was a doctor, who was inquisitive and
wanted to search for the truth. His inquisitive nature resulted in
him gathering evidence of the life of Jesus and allowed him to
write a detailed story of Jesus. But besides writing, he was
sometimes a companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. If you
read Acts you will not read a lot about him. You will read more
about Paul, Peter, Barnabas etc. Luke therefore stayed out of the
limelight. He most probably assisted Paul on a physical level as
Paul was quite often abused on his journeys. And Luke, being a
doctor, could look after him and help him. Now we don't read a lot
about Luke medically helping Paul, but I am sure that he did. And
sometimes I wonder if Paul would have been able to do everything he
did if the Lord didn't equip Luke to help him. What would have
happened if the Lord didn't put Luke on his path to care for him? I
think if we look at the life of Luke today, I think he was a great
man. You never read anything bad about him, in fact only good
things. But Luke could have looked at himself and felt that he was
not the one that was doing the 'important' work like Paul. He could
have become dismayed and decided to rather practice his medicine
somewhere where he was important and looked up to, somewhere where
he can make money working as a doctor. But he didn't and that has
made all the difference. Today he is a hero.
If I look at my own life, I also
have someone that helps me to be able to do my writing and
motivational work. It is our domestic worker and Nanny, Jenette. If
it wasn't for her help looking after my youngest in the mornings
and with her help cleaning the house, I would never have the time
to be able to write or to spend time with the Lord and convey His
message to you. I would truly battle to do what the Lord has called
me to do. And therefore I truly believe she is doing what the Lord
requires of her. Now in the eyes of the world she is not doing
anything important, but to me she is vital and I know that the Lord
looks favorably at her.
And so it might be for you as well.
Maybe your goal in life is to encourage people wherever you meet
them every day, whether it is in the grocery store or next to the
sports field. Maybe your goal and task in life is to plant the seed
in another person's life. Maybe your task in life is to support
missionaries financially. Maybe the Lord wants you to pour the tea
at church every Sunday and give a smile and an encouraging hug to
anyone who might need it. Maybe you are called to be an intercessor
in prayer for those standing in ministry. It is such an important
task, but not necessarily one in the limelight. Maybe you are
technically inclined and the Lord wants to use you to help with the
electronic equipment at the church service. Now it might seem
insignificant, but it is such an important task, otherwise the
whole atmosphere of the service might not be the same. Maybe you
are called to be a full time mother and to bring up your children
in a godlike manner. Whatever it may be, you are important. You are
doing what God requires of you and if you do it with joy and if you
do it to the best of your ability, you will be rewarded for it. In
this life you will be rewarded with the Lord's joy and peace that
transcends all understanding because you are doing what is suitable
to your personality and you are doing what the Lord wants you to
do. But you will also be rewarded in the life to come. The Lord
will exalt you in Heaven and be happy that you lived out your task
here on earth.
Lord, please help us and shield us
from the feelings of unworthiness. Help us to realize our full
potential. We love You and want to serve You. Amen