“FOR
WORK OR SHOW?”
The following
is taken from a special prayer guide
prepared for members of my church to be
used during the month of May. This
devotional was written by the pastor and
all credit is given to him and to the Lord
who inspired him.
“Two
kinds of pickup trucks exist in this
world. Those that are for show….and those
that are for work. Have you seen the
Cadillac Ext? For a mere $55,000, you can
purchase this pickup truck. This, however,
isn’t any ordinary truck. Leather, auto
trans, air, Bose stereo, heated seats, GPS
system, bells and whistles out the wazoo! It’s
the complete luxury package. Rides like a
dream! Power to spare! Rugged frame and
strong suspension! A very capable truck,
indeed.
“If I
were a betting man (and of course I’m
not), I’d wager 95% of these trucks will
never carry a load that couldn’t be
handled by a car. Most will only drive off
pavement when a flagman carrying a detour
sign forces them onto gravel. While
underneath they possess all the workings
of a truck, they’ve been decorated to
function like a car, capable of heavy
loads but convinced to avoid scratches and
dings. It’s easy for Christians to fall
into the Cadillac trap. God cleans us up,
adds bells and whistles, and we learn that
the paved roads are smoother and easier to
handle. Somewhere along the way, we forget
that we were designed to carry a load. ‘If
any man wishes to come after me, let him
first deny himself, take up his cross
daily and follow me.’ You were
designed to carry a load.
“Let me
tell you just a few things about that
load. First, it will always glorify God
and serve others. Second, loads put strain
on us, scratch our paint, and dent our
fenders. Third, we often find our cargo
off-road. Jesus didn’t promise that this
world would be a showroom. In fact, he
promised exactly the opposite. But how
else will those who are stranded in the
middle of nowhere ever know Jesus if we
don’t carry the load of the cross to them?
“Look at
your life. Are you decorated with
religious bells and whistles? Or, are you
putting all of your capabilities to work
in carrying the cross to the world?
“Read
Galatians 6:3-8
“When
was the last time you told someone how you
came to know Christ?
“Tell a
family member or close friend how were
saved!”
