1 Samuel 20-21 / John 9 / Psalm 113-114 / Proverbs 15:15-17
When you’re reading your Bible, as I assume you do, do you ever read a verse or portion that you don’t quite understand? I’ll admit that I don’t grasp everything I read, and also that there’s not enough hours in the day to study each thing I’m wanting an answer to. I wish I had more time…
However, I’ll often find a few sentences that I can study and find a little more information on. Studying for deeper meaning is not unlike solving a mystery, and I do enjoy a good mystery. Today, as I read I noticed a few verses that I wanted a little more information on. I found those in John 9:4-5.
“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
This mystery is simple to solve, but profound to consider and I have a feeling you’ll feel the weight of your own assignment from the Lord. Quickly carry out the tasks assigned to us… How many of you did your homework the day it was assigned when you were in school? And how many of you waited until the night before to do the work? Or even the morning it was due?
I’ll admit I was more of a get it done ahead of time kind of girl. I don’t enjoy the pressure of being behind or late. So when Jesus is telling us to quickly carry out our tasks, I think we should take that to heart. Granted, if I don’t know my tasks, I can’t accomplish them. But once they’ve been revealed, it’s better to work daily to obey God than to put off His wishes day after day.
Here’s another scenario. Someone asks you to do something, but there is no deadline, so you keep telling yourself, “I’ll do that tomorrow.” Tomorrow comes and the task is not done. Then the next day and the next… before you know it, many days, weeks, months or years have passed and the thing you were going to do is long forgotten.
But what if tomorrow doesn’t come? What if the day you became aware of your task was your last day on earth? If you knew that, you would probably quickly do what had been asked. What if you knew that accomplishing one task would lead to another, then another? Task after task would not be drudgery, but would be an adventure where you’d be able to say to God, “What’s next?!”
The night signifies the end of your work. Jesus knew He would be leaving earth soon and that He had a certain number of days to do His Father’s will. That’s how I want to live my life – with the knowledge that I have a certain number of days to do God’s will and to affect the lives of those around me. I want my life to be filled with moments that change both my life and the lives of those I love.
What I’m speaking about is legacy, and I know you want to leave a lasting impact on those around you as much as I do. Would you join me in changing the world? World change doesn’t come in one grand gesture; rather it comes with thousands of small steps and yes’s when God asks.
Lord, I want to say “yes” to You. Will you (the reader) say “yes” to God with me and join the Great Adventure? I hope you will!
