“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God—this is your true and proper worship. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and
sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”
Romans 12:1
Romans 12:1
Hidden Flowers
John McKay recently told me a story about a time many years ago when he was troubled about the direction his ministry was headed. It seemed to be going in a direction that he would not have wanted it to go. Distraught, John drove out into the country and discovered a hidden meadow near Glen Rose that was completely covered by beautiful blue bonnets. He told how this meadow was a great distance from anything or anyone who would be able to see it without going to great trouble to get there. John said that he remarked to the Lord how beautiful the blue bonnets were. He said that the Lord replied: “I know. I planted each and every one of them.” John said that he questioned the Lord about why He would go through the effort of planting such a magnificent display of his glory…seemingly in vain, where no one would get to see it. John said that God told him essentially, that if He chose to plant them simply for His own enjoyment, to His own glory, wouldn’t that be enough?
John McKay recently told me a story about a time many years ago when he was troubled about the direction his ministry was headed. It seemed to be going in a direction that he would not have wanted it to go. Distraught, John drove out into the country and discovered a hidden meadow near Glen Rose that was completely covered by beautiful blue bonnets. He told how this meadow was a great distance from anything or anyone who would be able to see it without going to great trouble to get there. John said that he remarked to the Lord how beautiful the blue bonnets were. He said that the Lord replied: “I know. I planted each and every one of them.” John said that he questioned the Lord about why He would go through the effort of planting such a magnificent display of his glory…seemingly in vain, where no one would get to see it. John said that God told him essentially, that if He chose to plant them simply for His own enjoyment, to His own glory, wouldn’t that be enough?
John said that it was a watershed for his own ministry. As the worship leader for the James Robison
Evangelistic Association, John McKay routinely led thousands in worship. Yet there in the middle of that flowered
field, he realized that he was placed on this earth by God to worship God using
his own gifts…whether anyone ever got to see them or not!
“They’re Not
Listening!”
Back in the early 80’s, I was a part of a Gospel bluegrass trio. John Monto, a talented flat picker, myself, and an amazing banjo player named Perry Adkisson would play in various venues from after game fellowships, to University fundraisers across Texas and New Mexico. We took great joy in getting to share our songs and voices with the rather captive audiences who attended the events.
Back in the early 80’s, I was a part of a Gospel bluegrass trio. John Monto, a talented flat picker, myself, and an amazing banjo player named Perry Adkisson would play in various venues from after game fellowships, to University fundraisers across Texas and New Mexico. We took great joy in getting to share our songs and voices with the rather captive audiences who attended the events.
On one evening, we were brought in to provide music for a
banquet at a church local to Abilene, Texas.
As we began to play, we quickly realized that no one was listening. They were having a good time, to be sure. But we three musicians? Not so much.
Our audience were talking, and eating…fellowshipping, but they were not
appreciating…us. We had been relegated
to the realm of room noise. It was an
awful strike to our respective pride.
While we had announced that what we were doing was to the glory of God,
we were offended that we weren’t being appreciated. We were disappointed to the extent that we
actually cut our program short.
Apparently, it was not about God, it was about us.
That event caused us to really have to re-group and
reevaluate the vision of what we were doing as a ministry. What if we assembled to play and only a few
attended? Would we be offended and cut
our program short again? Or would we gladly share our gifts as if we were
playing to a full house?
Conversely, when we showed up to play and hundreds applauded
and cheered…who was that for? Would we
gladly absorb the praises? Who were we
playing for anyhow? Was what we were
doing still for the glory of God…or not?
How About You?
I’m very certain that you have talents. Maybe you do sing like John, or the members of that trio. Perhaps your gifts and talents are nobler and have nothing to do with music at all. You may be a skilled homemaker, business manager, or sales associate. You may be teacher, or an eloquent communicator who is able to speak into the hearts of friends, or business associates, leading them toward wise decisions. Whatever you do, whatever your skill, are you doing whatever you do to the glory of God? Are you performing those gifts for an audience of one? What will your sacrifice of worship be this day?
I’m very certain that you have talents. Maybe you do sing like John, or the members of that trio. Perhaps your gifts and talents are nobler and have nothing to do with music at all. You may be a skilled homemaker, business manager, or sales associate. You may be teacher, or an eloquent communicator who is able to speak into the hearts of friends, or business associates, leading them toward wise decisions. Whatever you do, whatever your skill, are you doing whatever you do to the glory of God? Are you performing those gifts for an audience of one? What will your sacrifice of worship be this day?
Scripture to Claim
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your
heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from
the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Colossians 3:23-24
Prayer
Almighty God, I sometimes find myself working to gain the approval of my peers, or bask for a moment in their praise of what I labor on. The praise of man is empty though, and meaningless as well. It does not satisfy my soul. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! Let my satisfaction be in your “well done!” In whatever I do today, let me be pleasing to you, and bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Almighty God, I sometimes find myself working to gain the approval of my peers, or bask for a moment in their praise of what I labor on. The praise of man is empty though, and meaningless as well. It does not satisfy my soul. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you! Let my satisfaction be in your “well done!” In whatever I do today, let me be pleasing to you, and bring glory to your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Submitted By Kerry Patton
