"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" - Colossians 3:24-25 (NIV).
At the height of the civil rights movement in the US once Dr Martin Luther King Jr was attacked by fellow church ministers for waging a non violent campaign in the segregated city of Birmingham. In his response, King noted he was always hesitant to respond to each and every critic, because, "If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk... I would have no time for constructive work"!
Jesus was too a target of harsh criticism, some even below the belt. Once after casting our a demon from one man, "when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This Man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebub the ruler of the demons" (Mathew 12:24). Yet other than dwell on responding and explaining himself to every critic, he carried on faithfully with his mission. When they finnaly had him nailed up on the cross on false charges, his last powerful words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:24).
Today we remember Jesus and his mission; but only refer to his critics in passing. Of course there is criticism that is positive, possibly provoked out of ignorance or desire for better. Yet there is so often criticism which is nothing but plain negative motivated only to kill good works.
This shouldn't be much of your concern. Once US President Theodore Roosevelt noted, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; ...who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat!"
Today, if you are facing a heap of negative criticism be encouraged, for your good works in Christ will outlast all the venom and naysayers!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit you help me persevere in good works, for a rich reward awaits such, this I pray in Jesus's name.
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
