Dave’s Monday Blast – March 12, 2018
At the conclusion of my weekly Monday Blast I recite the same phrase in an effort to remind each of us that every moment is precious and we are compelled to redeem the time God provides. For many years I have articulated another phrase to my co-workers as I leave the premises at the conclusion of the day: “Lord willing, I will see you tomorrow. You never know, because strange and unpredictable things happen every day.” We need to live in a way that redeems today while at the same time preparing for tomorrow. I think the following Biblical truths from the Dension Forum help to illustrate:
1. True love never counts the cost of service. (Mark 14:4 – 5) When Mary anointed Jesus, “There were some who said to themselves indignantly, ‘Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor'” (Mark 14:4 – 5). Jesus responded by predicting, “Wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her” (v.9). We are fulfilling his promise by remembering her sacrifice today.
When we truly love someone, no cost is too great in expressing that love. If we measure the cost of serving Jesus, we can be sure that our hearts are not as close to him as Mary’s was. But when we love him passionately, we will serve him sacrificially. And we will love those he loves.
2. Momentary sin leads to lasting consequences. (Genesis 42:21) Twenty years after Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, they were still dealing with their crime: “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen.” (Genesis 42:21) Jesus warned us, “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34)
3. Prosperity on earth can distract us from the priority of heaven. (Philippians 4:12) Paul testified, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.” (Philippians 4:12) Commenting on the latter phrase, Charles Spurgeon noted: “The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous.” He explained: “We are full and we forget God: satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry-so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God.”
4. Service prepares us for eternity. (Mark 13:33) Jesus urged us, “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33) He added, “You do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning.” (v. 35) The safest way to be ready to meet Jesus is to be busy serving Jesus.
We cannot measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness! The question for you my INTENTIONAL brothers is simply this:
Are you ready to meet Jesus today?
