Lincoln is quoted as having said he was disappointed in a certain sermon he had heard because the preacher had not asked him to do anything great for God. As a preacher, it comes to my mind…how often in asking for such are there those interested in doing just that….something great for God?
It is clear that God isn’t in need of our material or physical resources…they all belong to Him in the first place. It is clear that God isn’t in need of our ideas or aims or goals…he has been the inspiration for our own. What is clear is that God calls us to a relationship of faith and a lifestyle of service in His name…and in that context we discover the “greatness” of what we can do.
Jesus said that greatness in the sight of God will be to undertake service to all. That immediately removes the plague of racism, nationalism, sectarianism, or even religious prejudice…in the name of Christ. It calls for a consideration of our calling to serve family and friend, neighbor and stranger, ally or enemy. It is the Jesus way.
No partiality. Love towards all. These are divinely inspired actions toward others with the aim to love with a love that intentionally, purposefully, gives and gives again. It is the Jesus way and it will continue to awe and inspire all of us to follow it…slowly, falteringly, and often poorly…but with an aim to consider in our every action what it means to obey our Lord…and to keep trying, living each day in His mercy…in His grace….in His greatness.
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