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In 1987, I traveled to the Philippines to serve as the key speaker in a week-long pastors’ conference and then to teach for a second week in a ministerial training school. The meetings were powerful. Lives were touched. The truths of Scripture pierced hearts in profound ways; many lives changed forever.
At the same time, the needs of the people overwhelmed me. These young Christians needed so much and I felt like I had so very little to give them to face the obstacles in their lives. So, even though I experienced only what appeared to be strong ministry, I really felt as though my gifts were insufficient for the situation. I even wondered why I was there!
At the end of the fifteen day trip, I wanted to go home. Wrung out emotionally, physically, and spiritually, my feelings of inadequacy only added to my earnest desire to board my flight for the United States.
At that time, a person holding a ticket on Philippine Air could still get bumped. When I stepped to the counter in Manila, the dreaded event happened to me! “We don’t have seat for you.”
My heart sank. Not knowing what else to do, I stood – in quiet desperation – at the counter. Another clerk came and punched around on the computer. Finally, a third agent handed me a boarding pass that boldly declared ‘Mubuhay.’ Clutching that precious piece of paper, I literally ran down the jet way.
Only when I boarded the plane did I realize that Mubuhay meant First Class! What a blessing! Then I thought about the huge needs. My own inadequacy crushed out every pleasure. The luxury of linen tablecloths, silver dishes, and wonderful pastries only made me feel worse! I wondered why God had sent a boy – me – to do a man’s job.
At that moment of despair, I felt the Hand of God reach through the roof of the airplane. I hope that you can catch the thrill of this moment – it was as though God the Father Himself rubbed me on the head and said, “But you were a good boy!”
At that moment, I understood that the critical issue is not how I evaluate success or failure, but rather that I simply do what He calls me to do. Obedience equals success in the eyes of God, and He’s the One – the only One – who really counts.
The challenge stands before us. To simply say yes to God. To obey His commands and to carefully choose His highest and best. To not allow good things to distract us from hitting the mark that He has set for our lives. To complete our course and to finish the race that He has chosen for each of us. And realizing that the only way to successfully obey Him lies in successfully surrendering our will, our way, our wants, our desires, and our purposes to His will, His way, His desires and His purposes.
At the very end of our days, the most important question is that of obedience, not our measures of success and failure. His ways are infinitely higher than our ways; His thoughts utterly transcend our own. As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so His ways soar above our puny thoughts. Why should we ever trust our judgments over His?
May we seek the success of obedience to His supreme will and purpose for us and for those whom we love in the faith. Let us cast “down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20 |
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A Good Boy |
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Our prayers are with you that God will shower you with His love and mercy, and bring you into all that He has for your life. Please remember us in your prayers as we reach out to orphans and other children who so desperately need natural help and to know the love of our Heavenly Father.
Tom and Larissa Benz |