Running the World?

A father was talking with his 8 year old daughter... “Daddy, who do you work for?”  The father replied “Myself!  I’m my own boss!”   The little girl replied “You’re the boss?”  The man said confidently “Yes, I’m the head of my company and I’m the head of this house!”  After a minute or two, the girl looked up at her daddy and said, “That might be true... you might be the head of this house... but I think mommy is the neck of the house... and she can turn the head wherever she wants it to go!”

All of us answer to someone.  A wife, a husband, a boss, a teacher, or a parent.  And just when we think we are in charge, we often get reminded that we aren’t.   Scripture tells us that no matter where we are in life... no matter what rung of the ladder we find ourselves on... that all of us ultimately need the same reminder.  God is in charge.  In Romans 14, God says that “... every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise.”   We don’t have to run the world.  In fact, we aren’t supposed to.  We have a God in heaven who has things firmly under control... And while He loves us with all of His heart, He doesn’t require a co-manager.   Ambition to lead is good... but when your version of the world is driven by a desire to control it... stop and remember who created you.  He’s the only One with that ability.

Do Something Good

It has been said that “ "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing."  We hear statements like that and nod our head in agreement.  We know that there is evil in the world... we condemn it on Twitter... we get into spirited discussions about it over dinner... but how many of us are doing anything to change things?  

The Bible tells us that we don’t have the option to stay indifferent.  In Romans 12:21 it says, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”  We serve a big God... and He’s stronger than anything bad the enemy could throw at us. It’s our responsibility to remember that... and be bold enough to stand up to those that want to do harm to others.   It may not be easy for us... but through God’s power and our willingness to be brave... good will ultimately win.  

Bent Out of Shape?

Dr. Earl Warrick of the Dow Corning Corporation made an interesting discovery in 1943.  As World War 2 raged on, he worked tirelessly to find a substitute for real (and much more expensive) rubber.  The result?  Something we played with as kids... the combination of boric acid and silicone... Silly Putty.  You remember Silly Putty right?  When you pushed on it, you could change it into any shape you wanted.  And when you stretched it out too far... it would snap.   

Have you ever felt like that?  Pushed on... bent out of shape... pulled to the point of breaking?  Many do.  Scripture has good news for us...  In Joshua 1:9, it says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”   Today I challenge you... for the next 24 hours... believe and live out this verse...   

Believe that you are strong through God’s power.

Believe that you can be courageous because He protects those He loves.

Believe that you can live fearlessly because God holds the future.

Believe you are never alone because He is with you...even in the darkness.

Refuse to allow life to bend you to it’s shape.. Believe and let God mold you into the person you were created to be.  

Everything Matters

Author Philip Yancey wrote about a television show he watched about survivors from World War II.  On the show, soldiers talked about how they spent a particular day in the foxhole.  They described it as ordinary... a German tank drove by and they shot at it... they played cards... a few got involved in some firefights... just a typical day.  Later, they learned that they had just participated in one of the most decisive engagements of the war, the Battle of the Bulge.  To them, it didn’t feel decisive... they were doing what they always did.  But because they held down their position...just miles away, their fellow countrymen could take new ground.

Maybe today started out a lot like those soldiers.  You hit the alarm clock, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to work.  Just an ordinary day.   But your day is far from ordinary.  God’s is in this day... and He’s making things happen.  You may not see the big picture...your position may seem inconsequential to you... but have no doubt... you play a critical role on this planet.  What you are doing matters.  You matter.  There are no small responsibilities when it comes to serving God and all of our efforts add up... no matter what we’re doing for Him.

Yancey finishes that chapter with this statement “Great victories are won when ordinary people execute their assigned tasks...”  Winning this world for Christ is a team effort.  Be the best you that you can be, honor God with your words and actions, and remember... everything matters...even the things that seem ordinary.  When we live that out, before long, the victory over the enemy of this world will be complete.  

The Neck

A father was talking with his 8 year old daughter... “Daddy, who do you work for?”  The father replied “Myself!  I’m my own boss!”   The little girl replied “You’re the boss?”  The man said confidently “Yes, I’m the head of my company and I’m the head of this house!”  After a minute or two, the girl looked up at her daddy and said, “That might be true... you might be the head of this house... but I think mommy is the neck of the house... and she can turn the head wherever she wants it to go!”

All of us answer to someone.  A wife, a husband, a boss, a teacher, or a parent.  And just when we think we are in charge, we often get reminded that we aren’t.   Scripture tells us that no matter where we are in life... no matter what rung of the ladder we find ourselves on... that all of us ultimately need the same reminder.  God is in charge.  In Romans 14, God says that “... every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise.”   We don’t have to run the world.  In fact, we aren’t supposed to.  We have a God in heaven who has things firmly under control... And while He loves us with all of His heart, He doesn’t require a co-manager.   Ambition to lead is good... but when your version of the world is driven by a desire to control it... stop and remember who created you.  He’s the only One with that ability.