Monday, Nov. 30, Luke 22

Which Chair?

Jesus had just celebrated the Passover meal for the last time with His disciples. He explained to them that the “bread and wine were tokens of God’s new covenant to save you – an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you.” (vs. 20)

He had just told them that He was going to die, that His death and resurrection were part of God’s plan “and they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom.” (vs. 24) The most significant event for mankind was unfolding, yet the disciples were more concerned about themselves, their status! They were definitely in the “me chair!”

It’s so easy to get caught up in the details and concerns of our natural life that we lose sight of the eternal purposes unfolding through our natural life. During my 18 years at NSEA, one of the professional staff I worked for (and my favorite) was a woman who saw the potential in me and mentored me. She always encouraged me, that I had the skills to do the task at hand, as well as played a big part in the rebuilding of my self confidence. And when I messed up, Sue would ask me, “will it matter 5 minutes from now . . . a day from now . . . a week from now? Then don’t worry about it. Let’s fix it and go forward.” I try to remember and apply those words, not only for myself but toward others. Am I always successful? No . . . I failed yesterday . . . I was focused on me . . . got caught up in the “details” and forgot that the outcome is to touch lives. I’m sorry, Susan. Please forgive me.

So I ask myself . . . what are my concerns today? How will these concerns look 5 minutes from now? A day from now? A week from now? 20 years from now? Will they be important? Or will they look insignificant or inappropriate?

I continue to press toward the mark of God’s grace. I want God to use me every day to share His love and His grace to the people He brings across my path. I want to be a part of the table Pastor Jerry described yesterday . . . the “grace chair” . . . the “growth chair” . . . the “fruitfulness chair” . . . not the “me” chair!