The Works of God

During my travels to Oklahoma this week I met a man with tattoos up and down his arms who loves Jesus, rides a motorcycle – and who lives with multiple sclerosis. He visits men in jail and tells them about a transformed life in Christ. A friend of mine simply remarked, ‘he can go places I can’t go’ to tell others about Jesus.

I met a lawyer who, I was told, provides significant amounts of pro bono legal advice to members of his church. In a very different way he can go places where I can’t go.

I met a pastor who loves Jesus and proclaims his sovereignty over all things and who will lead the funeral of two little girls and their father who died in the tornado this past week. He is going to a place where most men fear to go.

I heard the story of a grandfather who daily cared for his wife for the last six years of her life when she could no longer take care of her own needs. He willingly accepted that this was his special role reserved for him. His grandson spoke so affectionally about the lessons he keeps learning today about the loving sacrifice he watched many years ago. I look forward to meeting that man in heaven someday.

And I had the chance to tell our own story of God’s goodness and mercy and love in the midst of the hard things in our family.

God gives us stories to use them for his glory. Sometimes our stories convict others about their need for a God who is this powerful and this good. Sometimes our stories encourage weary saints to persevere in the strength that only God can provide. Sometimes we just get enjoy, in fresh ways, who our God is and how much we can depend on him in all circumstances.

Let’s make much of him today, and possibly go places others cannot go or fear to go because we have been given a special story of God’s extraordinary goodness and sovereignty over all things, for his glory and for our good.