“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10
So how important is it for you to have your moment in the spotlight? In the past couple of decades I have been looking at people doing work in the mission fields and striving to get their names and deeds up in the spotlight on the stage of the world; I’m not being judgmental of them but rather using their example as a personal lesson of what not to do in my life.
Like a whitetail deer froze in the beam of a headlight on a starless night, so is standing in the spotlight uncomfortable for me. If you don’t believe me ask anybody who has gone on a mission trip with me and tried to photograph me; my turning from the camera is akin to a Haitian vodou priest not wanting their evil spirit to be captured by a Kodak moment.
There is nothing wrong with being a ditch dweller or a ‘nobody’. The child in the attached photo is a ‘nobody’ by our culture’s standards. Our Triune God knows of her worth and trust me; she is a ‘somebody’ to Him who is accomplishing much for Him. She is being prepared to be a missionary at the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe. She enjoys a daily meal at school from a Trinity/HOPE supporter like you and me. The work of feeding this child may not seem that important; but it is to Him.
The Bible is filled with people who have done much away from the spotlight; Jabez, Amos, Enoch and Habakkuk come to mind. A few good men, leaders, anonymous; a bunch that our culture might consider to be a ‘nobody’. Jabez appeared briefly in the Bible. We read in 1 Chronicles 4:10; “Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” This girl from Ouanaminthe, you and I are in good company while joyfully serving our Triune God outside of the spotlight.
Your gifts make you so valuable for Him and for her but not famous. The ultimate joy of your sacrificial gifts to this child will be to His glory and not worldly applause. I close today with the words from the hymn ‘Take my life and let it be’ that was written by Frances Havergal in 1874.
“Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee. Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine; take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all, for Thee.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay