Making it Count
The Urgency of Now: Life moves with relentless speed, like an arrow released from its bow. David understood this temporal nature when he prayed, "Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is." — Psalm 39:4. We often live as if we have an endless supply of tomorrows, but in the Word we are soberly reminded that our life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." — James 4:14. This isn't meant to discourage us but to instill a holy urgency in our hearts. When Jesus said, "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." — John 9:4. This wisdom isn't just about acknowledging life's brevity—it's about making each moment count for eternity. The ancient Romans had a saying, "Carpe diem" (seize the day), but as believers, we're called to something greater: to redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Don’t let days, months, or years slip by without acting on God’s call—use this brief life to make an eternal impact.
Staying the Course: The world is full of voices telling us how to live, what to achieve, and what success looks like. But true fulfillment comes only through aligning with God's divine blueprint for our lives. Consider David Livingstone, who pushed deep into uncharted Africa despite countless hardships. When criticized for "wasting" his medical education, he responded, "God had only one Son, and He was a missionary." Livingstone understood that following God's plan often means departing from conventional wisdom. Likewise William Carey, known as the father of modern missions, who persevered through the loss of his child and the destruction of years of translation work in a fire. Yet he declared, "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." The same could be said of Hudson Taylor, who revolutionized missionary work in China despite facing severe criticism for his methods. He wisely noted, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply." All these men understood the Word when it said, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." — 1 Corinthians 15:10.
The Walk of Integrity: In our rush to "make it count," we must never sacrifice integrity for achievement. The early Moravian missionaries lived by the powerful motto, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, love" – a creed that guided their remarkable missionary work across the globe while maintaining humble service to others. This embodies the humble spirit we must maintain. The wisdom in Proverbs rings true: "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." — Proverbs 22:1. Walking in honor means holding to the truth, refusing to take shortcuts, and treating others with dignity, no matter our mission or achievements. Jesus lived with perfect humility, serving others and laying down His life. We, too, are called to embody humility, to place others before ourselves, and to walk in integrity. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3. Living honorably and with integrity allows us to make an impact that resonates long after we’re gone.
Standing Firm in Opposition: Jesus was unequivocal: "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" — John 15:18. This hatred isn't just passive dislike—it's active opposition to those who live for God's purposes. The world system, as we are reminded in the Gospel of John, lies under the sway of the evil one (1 John 5:19). It seeks to distract, discourage, and derail us from our divine calling. The world's values contradict the truths of Scripture, and following Christ sets us apart. In such opposition, our greatest weapon is an intimate relationship with God through prayer. As Jesus demonstrated in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayer isn't just a religious duty but our lifeline to divine strength. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." — Matthew 26:41. This wasn't merely advice—it was a revelation of how to stand firm in times of intense spiritual warfare. The enemy knows that if he can disrupt our prayer life, he can weaken our resistance. Jesus himself modeled this dedication to prayer, often withdrawing to lonely places to commune with the Father (Luke 5:16). This wasn't occasional or casual—it was His source of power and direction. Similarly, in Acts 4, when the early church faced persecution, their first response was to gather together in prayer. The result? "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" — Acts 4:31. This is the power available to us when we maintain that vital connection to God. Saint Francis of Assisi understood this when he prayed, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." His famous prayer continues: "Where there is hatred, let me sow love." This is our calling—to maintain our purpose even in the face of opposition. The key lies in the exhortation to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This doesn't mean endless verbal prayer but maintaining a constant awareness of God's presence and our dependence on Him. Through consistent prayer and communion with God, we don't just survive opposition—we thrive in it. Our prayers become more than requests; they become declarations of dependence on the One who holds all power in heaven and on earth. This is how we make our lives count in a world that stands against us—by staying so close to God that His presence becomes our constant reality and His power our continuous source of strength.
The Power of Hidden Faithfulness: There's profound wisdom in working quietly and faithfully, away from the spotlight. Jesus taught, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." — Matthew 6:3-4. Like Michelangelo laboring in solitude on the Sistine Chapel, true greatness often emerges from hidden faithfulness. When Raphael observed Michelangelo's work secretly by candlelight, he witnessed not just art, but the fruit of unseen dedication. This principle echoes through Scripture: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." — Matthew 6:6. The quiet, consistent work of today becomes the testimony of tomorrow.
In Him,
Tim and Will