This past week was rough. Thursday was a particularly low point for me. But God is good; He has blessed me with the most incredible and encouraging friends, and He speaks words of comfort and reassurance. One way God spoke to me was through an illustration brought up at Bible study on Thursday night-- the parable of the talents.
Someone made the comment that the Master was just as pleased with the servant He had given two talents to. That servant had invested and put to use all that he was given, and even though he didn't make as much profit as the servant who was given five talents, the Master was equally delighted with both servants who put their talents to use for Him. And He would have been equally pleased with the servant He had only given one talent to had he done anything worthwhile with it for his Master. Sometimes I feel like a one- or two-talent servant. I don't always feel like God has given me much to work with, but I pray that He will help me put to good use what He has blessed me with that He may be just as pleased with me as any of His children.
The other passage that really spoke to me was this:
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope.
With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
You're blessed when you're content with just who you are-- no more, no less.
That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.
He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
You're blessed when you care.
At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
You're blessed when you get your inside world-- your mind and heart-- put right.
Then you can see God in the outside world.
You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.
The persecution drives you even deep into God's kingdom.
~Matthew 5:3-10, The Message
2 comments:
I love that verse, even more so from the message version! It was good seeing you at bible study, stay strong in Jesus, friend!
Yeah. I really appreciated that comment as well. I've never thought of it that way before, and it was certainly something that I needed to hear as well.
A lot of the time we don't realize that God is using us, but He does as long as we submit our lives to Him daily. I think that your work at the hospital is a great mission and that you touch more peoples' lives than you realize.
I love you, roommate! :D
Post a Comment