Our Lives Are Under Observation
January 24, 2012
Friends,
Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a wonderful missionary woman I’d known since I was a kid. It was beautiful to hear others describe how she had brought joy and laughter and fun everywhere she went, brightening her workplace, church, and home, and extending hospitality regularly. Her husband had so many praise-worthy things to say about her that I was amazed. And though she lived only 61 years, this woman certainly lived her life to please the Lord and bring His love and edification to others. To say the least, it was a very touching, inspiring memorial service.
These memorials always get me thinking… not only of eternal things, but about daily life… and if and how we can better try to live up to being saints of noble character –in the Lord’s eyes, but also in other people’s eyes, not for our glory, but for their sakes. For others are watching us, being inspired and strengthened and uplifted by us… or not being…
One thing someone said was that this woman let the love of God flow through her to others. God’s love… pouring into His servant… flowing out to everyone else. Isn’t this what existence is about? Or should be about? Everyone shedding abroad the love of God? Giving others hope and strength to persevere in the assignments God has given to each of us?
It’s important. Yes, it’s important to encourage, to exhort, to love, and to remain faithful ourselves. Faithful to Christ, to our families, to our God-given tasks, and to Christ-likeness. For others are indeed watching, and their lives and eternities, to one degree or another, for good or for evil, are being affected.
Furthermore, in addition to these others, “God [who] will bring every deed into judgment” (Ec. 12:14) and will make us “give account on the day of judgment for every careless word we have spoken” (see Matt. 12:36) as well as the thoughts, attitudes, and intentions of our hearts (Heb. 4:12,13), has been carefully observing us as well.
Sincerely,
with love,
Rachel
