Buenos Dias,
I am sitting in the living room of Casa Adonai, an orphanage in Chihuahua, Mexico. It is day three of our mission trip here. I have never been here before and I am still processing the experience. I must admit, that I am wrestling with some of the feelings I am having. There is a mistaken assumption in my mind that must be addressed. I came here to minister, but find that I am being ministered unto instead. We tend to think that because we have much in the realm of physical stuff, that we have MUCH... we are wrong. The lack of things is not a huge issue in the minds of these children. They are in a home where they are loved, cared for and cherished. A home where their basic needs are met, where they are safe, and where they hear of the love of God in the midst of everyday life. As they offer love to us, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the outpouring. As they desire our attention we find ourselves stretched to live beyond our own selves, even to the point of exhaustion... and yet, they give far more than they take. One of the main things they give us is a lesson in thankfulness. For when they receive something, they are truly grateful for it. I watched Louis bring home a large bag of donated toys that were destined for the trash in someone else's mind, and the children saw new and wonderful gifts. I am not advocating throwing our trash away to orphans... I am challenging our level of gratitude for what we have. How often do we complain that the things we have are not good enough, how often do we "need" new things because the old ones are not brand new anymore, and may have some things that do not work just right...
I think that much can be learned from all of life, I am also convinced that we miss much of it because we are always focused on ourselves. That focus must be changed, but even an outward focus is not enough. A man centered focus of giving is always a weak substitute for a God centered one. An outward focus is better than an inward one, but the goal should always be an upward one. When we live our lives with our eyes on what we have, or on what we think we need, we miss the intent of Jesus in Matthew 6.33-34... the One who is the owner of all, the One who emptied Himself of His glory to bring Glory to the Father cautioned us to live with our eyes fixed on the Kingdom. He warned us to not live with our gaze on the things of this life but rather to intentionally cast a vision for that which lasts, trusting God to provide that which we actually need here. When you live in dependence upon mercy, the necessary result is gratitude. This lesson is hard for us who have been given much, but seems as natural as breathing to those who have not been given so many physical things. I am rereading John Piper's excellent book ''Future Grace'' and his point is well taken that gratitude is a poor motive for righteous living... he contends rightly that we must use gratitude for past grace as a strengthening agent for faith in future grace, but I find a weakness in myself that runs even deeper. I worry at the lack of gratitude that I find in myself and sense in others. That lack which comes from the thought that what we have we have earned, or even worse in my mind is the evil that says God has given it because I deserve it.
Beloved, please understand that all we have is the mercy of a loving sovereign God. Every breath, every opportunity, every gift, every moment... we are His and must live in the realm of those who think of God Himself as our highest desire, our greatest joy, our supreme pleasure, our chief reward. Let us spend the life that He has given in pursuit of Him. Everything He gives is for that purpose... do not miss it for the sake of that which is dust and ash. Until His Kingdom comes, let us fix our eyes steadfastly on the horizon of His mercy, seeing everything in light of the grace that gives it, praising the One who gave all so that we might have the privilege of knowing Him.
grace,
pastor e