A Persistent Thought

We can be deeply committed to a cause, a dream, a reality and still not see it come to pass. We can work, sweat, cry and strive and not 'succeed'. And yet that is just what God calls us to do. We see the work that He calls us to, and we work. Sometimes openly and defiantly, like the American Revolution or Civil Rights. Sometimes quietly and steadily, like Hudson Taylor or Jim Elliot.

Most of the time we long for the spectacular. Just like the Jews wanted the Messiah to be, bursting onto the scene and demolishing the Romans, we want to fight for a cause. When what we are called to do is love, ruthlessly.

Love requires thought. Not passing thought but intentional pondering. Not flippant, shallow ideas of what love could be, but a willingness to involve oneself in another's life. To selflessly put another's spiritual growth at the forefront of our intentions.

When we live for God's glory, we are living our humanness to the very depths to which we were created. When we live for our own narrow existence we shrink God's glory to the size of our life.