I was thinking this morning about some of the ideas that I have. It’s actually a common occurrence writing in my journal and pondering those thoughts. What about you? Do you have ideas about your future?
Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7,8
The meaning of life is not something kept only for a few. It’s available for the asking. It may not always be what we think, but it’s open to us if we really desire the answers.
What Is The Essence Of The Day
Lately, I’ve been asking myself and praying about what the essence of the day really is. We don’t have tomorrow, but we have today, so shouldn’t real life be found on the given day? When Jesus taught the disciples to pay he said, “give us this day our daily bread.” I pray, Lord, help me see the wonders of the day. Help me see how to use the tools and resources you’ve put in my hands today.
Frustrations and Getting Stuck In Life
One thing on my mind this morning. I know the frustration of getting stuck on a project and not knowing who to ask for help. When I survey my life, I think about the moments of learning to build websites and write code when I would get so far and then hit a wall. Who can I ask for help? I can remember the frustration. Have you experienced the same?
A good Google search sometimes yields answers but not always, which leads to frustration. I also have tremendous gratitude for those who were there to help over the years. I think about my time working at Cox, where people like Anthony, John and so many others come to mind. Great people who were there to help with no strings attached. They were the ones giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul. I hope I’m available to offer the same to you.
Barriers To Moving Forward
I see two barriers when it comes to everyday people just wanting to move forward. You know, average Joe. You could apply this to any area, from fixing a car (thank you Paul), fixing a leaky faucet to building a website. The two barriers I see are access to help and access to the right tools (and gear – I’ll talk more about that on another day).
We know the phrase, “Just Google it.” You probably said that at some point, I know I have. At work, they think I’m an IT computer guy. Honestly, about 99% of the time, I just Google it. There are Google searches, online forums and YouTube that are amazing, but they don’t always have an answer. Sometimes you need a real person who really wants to help. Those people exist and they are the ones who shine like a light in dark places.
All Of Us Average Joe’s
There are a lot of us average Joe’s out there. These are people you cross paths with daily. We all fall into this category, and we’re the ones that just need a little advice, or a little guidance, a little push in the right direction, a little encouragement. But we are also the ones who may also have little advice to give as well. Together we can help one another.
What Do You Want
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
That’s an interesting verse. Of course, we all know the golden rule, do to others how you would like to also be treated. But thinking about what I wrote above. Share. Make yourself available. Teach. This brings one of my favorite verses to mind, “The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.” Proverbs 11:25
Just after Jesus said to ask, seek and knock, He said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” Interesting. I think that fits here.
A few verses down in Matthew 7, Jesus starts talking about those who were doing things but did not make it into the kingdom of heaven. I find it interesting that He says of those who do make it into the kingdom, “do the will of my Father in heaven.”
Jesus talked about a broad way and a narrow way. The little way was the way of life, but the broad way was the way of destruction. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus speaks of those who did extraordinary things in life but did not make it into the kingdom of heaven. It was only those who did the will of the Father who made it in.
Interestingly, the group that didn’t make it was well aware of all the great things they had done. They even told God about them, but they still fell short. At another time, Jesus spoke about two other groups of people. Those that would make it and those that wouldn’t. I find it interesting those who made it had no idea how they ministered to Jesus. On that day they will say, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” Matthew 25:37-39 Jesus didn’t leave them with no answer, He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
Great Things Are Found In The Dark
In a way, great things are found in the dark. It’s not discovered with the applause of men but in the secret places. That is, life is located in the secret place of prayer and in giving yourself away unnoticed by the world around.
Those who do the will of the Father are those who enter the kingdom. Since Jesus said, “your Father who is in heaven gives good things to those who ask Him” Matthew 7:7,8, should we also give good gifts to others… to the least of these?
I think the broad way is everyone, merely you and I trying to find fulfillment the same way. We want, want want. Turns out that was the wrong way. If something doesn’t work, repeating what doesn’t work is not going to one day work. Yet, we still seek a way that doesn’t work. Change course. The hard and narrow path is giving yourself away and trusting God to be the one to provide. You know, Jesus did tell us not to seek after food and clothing… He said that’s what the gentiles seek after. Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom, and everything else will be added to you. He tells us we have a Father in heaven who does care for us and will provide.
Knowing we have a Father who cares for us we can hold things a little looser and be free to share what we have. So how about we change course and take a little trail into the wonders of God.