Keeping the Right Schedule
Acts Chapter 10
Scripture= Acts chapter 10:34-36
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Observations and applications=
I don’t know about you, but my life is pretty full and seems to often fly by at about ninety miles an hour. I can get so caught up in all the activities that my family and I are involved in that my life becomes my world. With a wife, four kids and a dog and with all the activities they are involved in and with the church schedule; I can get pretty consumed with my life. My schedule becomes my sole existence and I can forget that there is a big world out there with all kinds of things that are happening. My world becomes appointments, sports practices and family activities so often that I can easily lose touch with the greater events that are happening around me. It takes a concerted effort to stay in touch with things outside my sphere of influence and activity. I can be so consumed in my life that I am not aware of all the things that are happening in the lives of those around me. Can anyone out there relate to this?
The same thing can happen in the ‘church world’ too! We get so caught up in our own church activities that we forget that we are a part of a body of believers all around the world. In America it is so easy to believe that somehow the world all revolves around what the American church believes and supports. It often seems like American Christians think that God loves us more than others countries or peoples. The most powerful moves of God are not happening in America however, they are happening in other places like South Korea or Uganda and somehow as Americans we act surprised. I hear people say, "Why doesn’t God do that here?" One of my favorites that I hear people say is, "Well that is what those people over there need!"
We need to be reminded of Peter’s words in this tenth chapter of Acts. Peter observes that, "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." I can’t be so obsessed with my personal life that I miss what God wants to do through me in the lives of the people around me. I also can’t get so locked into my ‘church world’ that I miss out on opportunities to be a part of the harvest around the world. God does care about all of his creation and he uses people to carry out his plans. I can support others through my prayers, giving and even going to the mission field.
This same Peter, mentioned in Acts chapter 10, wrote that God is not willing that any should perish (II Peter 3:9). I need to go wherever my God directs me to care for his creation. I may miss his direction if I am too busy to hear him or to see where he is leading me. I also may miss the Lord’s direction if I have decided who is important to God and who in my opinion is not! Peter went to Cornelius’ house and a whole new world was opened up to those who lived outside of Judaism. Those of us who are Gentiles can rejoice that Peter was obedient to the will of God and wasn’t too caught up in his own world. Because of Peter’s actions we too can hear the good news of our Lord’s peace.
Prayer= Lord, help me to not be so caught up in my own activities that I miss revealing you to those around me. Help me to stay engaged in announcing your kingdom. I don’t want to judge where the gospel goes and to whom it is proclaimed. I want to enjoy the opportunities I am given to proclaim your love.
Acts reminds me so often that my world isn't about me at all. (I really felt that I should explain myself thoroughly, so it’s longer than a normal comment.)
It has been a blessing and what seems like a curse at times to have the opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom while working out of my home. I say that because, I have worked over forty hour weeks in the past and I understood what it meant to trade that for being a stay-at-home mom. It meant, for me, the same hours, less money, time spent with my children (I think sometimes less quality) but it was really what I desired to do, so God provided and I become full time mom (Chief Financial Officer and Executive Buyer for Hilliard Enterprises). However, when God saw fit to provide this family a second vehicle (one for me) I found that I could help my husband and find time for myself by picking up an at home job. Boy, I didn't realize how taxing it would be to then accomplish the same amount of "home - family" tasks and still find time for my much needed alone time with God. I quickly became obsessed with seeing my task list complete before having to make a new one the next day. (Ditto on all the things to do in the Blog.)
Until God grabbed a hold of my heart and asked me to give up MORE of my time to His Work...I thought He was crazy. I really in a time of prayer, felt bold enough to tell God that he must have forgotten how many hours he gave me in a day; I didn’t think I had enough time to shower each day and do a personal devotional, so when was I suppose to get this TIME for His work?
Turns out, it has been a BIG blessing. Finding time to even talk to my neighbors (most of whom we don't know) as become easier now that I understand my schedule from Christ's perspective. A perspective from Acts 10, to not forget that my neighbors only chance to hear the Good News, might be me! It might be my last chance to see that homeless guy who stands at the corner each weekend. Today might be the perfect opportunity to show Jesus’ love to my child’s teacher. Today could be the last day that I have a chance to say something nice to the “mean lady” in the neighborhood who lets her dog poop on my lawn.
Please don't miss what I am saying, because each day with my children, teaching them, praying with them and watching them grow in their walk with Christ is just as much a ministry as anything. I firmly believe that God’s heart is found in loving a child. However, I have just in the last few weeks discovered, that I can give up my time & talents for God while being a great stay-at-home mom and even have time to plant a seed or two in the life of someone who doesn't yet know God's love.
It's been a transition, it's been a little stressful at first, but the calm of my spirit as never felt better. Not because of my works, for they are not important, but because I am learning to be obedient to whatever HE asks me to do. I feel like what I am saying can be read in the Steven Curtis Chapman song, Live Out Loud.
"Imagine this
I get a phone call from Regis -
he says "Do you want to be a millionaire?"
They put me on a show and I win
with two lifelines to spare
Picture this
I act like nothing ever happened
and bury all the money in a coffee can
Well, I've been given more than Regis ever gave away
I was a dead man who was called to come out of my grave
I think it's time for makin' some noise "
This is the first verse, but what it says is very clear that here are my gifts...my talents...my testimony...those all combined are worth more than money to the Lord's work!
So, will I bury them in a coffee can? Do I get so busy with my task list that while I am watering my plants outside I look just like the “mean lady” from down the street, because if I am not careful, I will stand out there and never have time to say anything to anyone who walks by. I don’t know about your neighbors, but this week I discovered that saying “Hi!” to my neighbors doesn’t take very long, but it has brought a smile to their faces. The gentlemen that we have watch walk with his infant son each day, has even begun to say Hi to my kids and exchange smiles.
It might seem small to you, but I just keep remembering that God put me in this neighborhood for some reason…and I don’t want to miss the opportunity to introduce the next “Billy Graham” to Jesus’ love.
I pray that I will not fall prey to my schedule again. I pray that God will keep me accountable and I hope that I can live out loud the love of Christ. Father, continue to teach me to give testimony with my actions and only use my words when necessary. I pray that I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and I pray that I will be obedient not questioning your desire to save the Lost, mend the broken-hearted, and heal the sick. Remind me to lay down my life & my schedule for you each day, so that you may be glorified. Amen.
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:09 PM
I too get so caught up in all that I am involved in to see that if I am not careful I'll miss those precious opportunities to share God's love with those who are actually in my world--not just those in my family/friends circle, but those I work with, live near and meet just in the course of my everyday life. It makes me sad. I can only imagine how it must the Lrod feel. I pray that the Lord will heighten my sensitivity to those in my world and to stop letting my schedule get in the way of doing what is truly important--participating in reaching those I come in contact with for Him. What is more important than lost souls?
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:43 AM