VIA: Sherri Mitchell, Elev8.com
Luke 10:33-37 (New International Version)
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
It seems that life seldom gets more hectic than around the holidays. Between parties, gift exchanges, shopping, bargain hunting, visiting relatives, and special events, it seems there is little time to catch one’s breath, let alone rest or reflect. I have gone through seasons in my life during which it seemed the activities would never end – seasons during which I have longed for rest, silence, and time to be alone with God. Sometimes those seasons have been exciting and invigorating, where my daily “to do” list, though extremely long, was a welcome challenge. Other times those seasons have produced fear, anxiety, and physical distress. The longer I walk with the Lord, however, the more I see how my life should be ordered.
Every life experiences both seasons of high activity and seasons of low activity. Simply because the individual is busy doesn’t mean the life they lead is a full one.
Ephesians 2:10 is one of my favorite verses in the New Testament. It reminds me that the God who has orchestrated history also orders my steps. I am so important to him and so integral to his plan, that he has hand-picked the work I am to accomplish during my time here on earth. Knowing God as I do, I know that the works he has chosen for me will not always be fun or comfortable. But I do know that he does nothing apart from his character. So whatever He has chosen for me will be good and quite beyond my ability to do without depending upon him.
It is my life’s joy to discover one by one, moment by moment, those works that God has ordained for me. My roles as wife, mother, writer, small group leader, editor, friend, and neighbor mandate my doing anything from preparing a meal,to researching a story, to sitting in on a product consultation, to mopping a floor, to teaching the basic principles of blogging, to picking up trash, or bandaging a skinned knee. In the past, I have mistaken a day full of mundane, routine tasks to be a wasted one. I have condemned days during which I accomplished none of the tasks I had planned.
