Greatest Hits

For the one minute I turned on the radio in my work vehicle this afternoon to see if I could catch a traffic report and it didn't happen. Got the weather instead, then back to the greatest hits. And as tempted as I was to keep the song on that they were playing, as it was a great classic 80's song, I shut the radio back off.

Of course, once again, moments earlier, still not having a topic for the next prayer post, the phrase "greatest hits" struck me. Particularly, in regards to the glorious day we will stand before God and receive our rewards! It got me thinking about what will in fact count. Will it be equal and fair, like the political commentary here on earth would promote? Will they be laid out according to their place of priority in regards to eternal importance? Questions only a finite mind would ask. The faith of a child says, who cares.....rewards are rewards, man!! What needs to be done to get rewards?!!

Apply this finite thinking to ministry for a moment. Someone responds to a call for salvation after a Sunday morning service... that's got to be a big reward right? Incredibly, eternally important? Absolutely. What about the people who come clean up the mess left by youth group or kids classes from a Wednesday night service? The person putting the bulletins together, or answering phones. The person who volunteers to go pick up lunch for a church or ministry meeting that has gone over schedule and won't be ending any time soon?

As in music, so I think it will be in heaven. There will be the "greatest hits", the obvious moments here on earth, that are recognizable as counting towards a heavenly reward. Likewise, I think there will be some "deep cuts" rewards... moments, that like songs, made an incredible mark, for a select few, but by and large were forgotten about as a matter of popularity.

Interestingly enough, our latest Wednesday night prayer devotional was on legacy. The first half was shared last week, by our Lead Pastor. The second half, by his wife, last night. At the close, she shared of a text she had gotten from a friend and among the comments, thankfulness for what she picked up on from a godly family... that didn't do anything obvious that would prompt a "thank you", but the little things added up to make an incredible mark on the life of this friend. That is the result of a life well-lived. Not having lived a perfect life, but working to bring glory to God through whatever moments in your life you can, in hopes that somewhere along the way it will make a positive impact for the kingdom of God and the cause of Jesus Christ.

So, we pray this #deaconThursday, that whatever deacons, admins and church staff find to do (as well as Pastors, obviously) that they would do so with the intention and motivation to bring glory and honor to God. May they not get bogged down in the mundane or doing a task "just to get it done", but that their would be an excellence factor. That God cares about what we care about, not because it's important, but because there would be an effort on our part, that whatever "it" is, there is an accompanying desire for God to be glorified in the process. May our work give way to show an active faith to those around us; that we are not perfect people, just people willing to be used by a perfect God. Unconditionally loving. Persistently patient. Compassionately merciful.

It's who God is. It's who He would desire us to become in greater capacity.
More like Him. Not for the rewards, but for His glory. And the advancement of the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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