“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered.” (Psalm 139:16-17 NLT)
Ever wonder what thoughts the Lord has of you? Was He thinking of you the day you were late for class, hadn’t done your homework, and had a “pop” quiz? How about that day you did that “thing” of which you were and are so ashamed? You hoped no one would ever find out, but He knew about it before you were born; before Jesus was a babe in a manger; before He died on a cross in your place to save you from that and many other sins you’ve committed.
Yet, the Bible says His thoughts of you are “precious.” How much higher and greater are the thoughts of God than the thoughts of man. We think sin, filth, degradation, death, but He thinks health, wholeness, purity, and heaven. We’re focused on the here and now, He’s focused on the world to come.
Yes, of course, He’s still thinking of each of us 24/7, but He’s seeing us in ways we struggle to ever see ourselves. We see failure, inadequacy, lack, but He sees success, more than adequate, never lacking anything. We see ourselves working our way up the proverbial ladder, He sees us delighting in Him and enjoying an eternity of bliss. We are this world focused, while He’s other world focused.
What’s YOUR version of success? Where do you see yourself in 10, 20, 30, 40 years? How do you see your life, your marriage, your kids, grandkids, your ministry? Do all of your thoughts revolve around you? If so, I can promise you one thing with certainty. You’re not going to enjoy the outcome. A self-centered life is on a dead-end road to nowhere.
Janel Breitenstein wrote: “Whatever ‘process’ you’re muscling through, sweating and bleeding—there’s One who has His own skin in your game. Whose version of success isn’t just for now, but forever.” It saddens me in some ways to have worked so hard for so little – so little “return” on my “investment” of ministry. On many levels I didn’t even know what real ministry was until I retired from being a “professional clergyman.”
Of course, there was a level of enjoyment and, gratefully, there were special people I met along the way that made it all worthwhile, people, many of whom are now in heaven, who touched my life and made an indelible mark for good and for God, not only on me, but many others. They are successful people as I see it. They’re the “ministers” who lived out their calling and are now enjoying the “fruit of their labor.”
What’s motivating you? What gets you up in the morning and fuels you throughout your day? If it’s anything but Jesus you’re in for a lot of heartache and disappointment. You may think I’m just a soured old man because I wasn’t as successful as I’d imagined I’d be, but you’d be wrong. I’m successful beyond my wildest dreams.
I’m closer to Jesus than I ever imagined I could be. His voice is clearer, His instructions more certain. His presence more refreshing, emotionally stirring, intellectually challenging, spiritually stimulating, and His retirement plan is out of this world! It has taken me a lifetime to learn that I don’t earn a living and love Jesus on the side – that’s completely backwards. Jesus IS our priority and everything else flows out of our walk with Him.
Let’s look at this more closely in tomorrow’s post.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 