Dave’s Monday Blast – February 10, 2020
I grew up in a pastoral home in rural Minnesota. My father was a Presbyterian pastor in small farming communities. Most every Sunday we would recite the “Greater Catechism” of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. To glorify God is to please Him.
Reflecting upon the recent Super Bowl with its remarkable on-field athletes and “interesting” half-time stage performers, I take pause to consider the reality of personal Influence. INTENTIONAL men of God understand that each day we are given the assignment of using our unique spheres of influence for Kingdom purposes. Few of us will ever “play” on a stage of such scale as the Super Bowl, but each of us has a daily stage upon which we perform. Each of us has an audience to whom we play. Do you find this intimidating? I would confess that the idea of letting the Lord know each day that I am willing to be used in any way He sees fit; prepared to provide an answer for the hope that is in me is intimidating. But I remind myself that His daily plan for me is so very purposeful and that plan is far more fulfilling than any we could make for ourselves. It is His desire to use us as fully as we are willing to be used.
IF the goal of my life is to fulfill the Greater Catechism and bring Him glory, I must acknowledge that my life will make the greatest impact when it is fully surrendered to Him each moment of each day. Pastor Jim Denison comments: “From Noah’s obedience that saved humanity to Moses’ obedience that led Israel out of Egypt to Daniel’s obedience that displayed God’s omnipotence to Jesus’ obedience in Gethsemane that led to our eternal salvation, the pattern holds: each time someone in Scripture chooses God’s will over their own, the world is never the same.”
I do not know if the Chiefs will be in the Super Bowl again next year, nor do I know who will “perform” on the half-time stage, but I do know this, my next step of obedience will make an eternal difference on earth and will glorify my Father in heaven. Then Paul’s testimony will be mine: “We speak, not to please man, but to please God” (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
How about you my friends…will you choose to please God today?
