What profit has the worker from that in which he
labors? I have seen the God-give task with the sons of man are to be
occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has
put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God
does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than
to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat
and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor – it is the gift of God. I know
that whatever God does it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to
it. And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear
before Him. That which is has already been. And what is to be has
already been. And God requires an account of what is past. (NKJV)
Lord that is a text that will preach!!! You are
before, during and after. What has been always will be! Amen.
Nothing needs to be added or subtracted because it is your perfect will.
You gave us eternity in our hearts so we would seek you and your beauty.
You make us each beautiful in your time. And not one of us will ever know
our beginning through to our end. That amazes me! You amaze me!
During this middle of my earthly live moment, you
are bringing out in my heart this desire to see eternity in all those around
me. Standing on an oil rig in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, talking about
how Jesus is all you need and when you think there can’t possibly be enough
Jesus to cover you – just fall into Him and find out how deep His water
flows. That’s eternity in the moment. Or talking with your teenage
son who prefers home devotions to Sunday school because you can learn about the
love of God for the whole world from a conversation. That the end of the
story I’ll never see – eternity in his heart! Or my Hindu “work daughter”, who
doesn’t even know what a chaplain is or does but wants to hear me talk about
you every time she comes into my office. That is the whole of your gospel
written in my soul. I’ve tasted and seen that you are good. You are
writing on my heart fresh and new the stories of old. My story – Your glory!!
There is nothing in my life but your beauty. Nothing in this moment but
rejoicing. The labors of my heart and hand are seen by you and are your
gift to me so I can eat and sing and dance. There were tears and loss and
mourning and ashes but now there is joy and praise and shouting. I deserve to
down into the pit but you have lifted me up to your right hand and called me
daughter. You’ve crowned me princess. I am yours!
What response can I have to this love but pure
joy? What was meant to destroy me has made me whole. So Lord, help me to
take this term full of growth and preparation and allow it to be the foundation
for this life of misisonal living. When I grow weary Lord give me wings.
When I wander from your path Lord call my name. When my joy becomes sorrow
comfort me that I may comfort others in due season. Lord for all the questions
I’ve asked and the plans I’ve arranged help me surrender to your way.
Call me out of the routine daily moments – call out to me from the deep – so
that I can wade into your ocean farther than my feet can carry me to where I
can walk on the water with you!
