“God displays his glory and goodness through the church. As we worship God, love our neighbors, and cherish our families, we become billboards of God’s message.”- Max Lucado
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”- Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV)
In Chapter 2 (“Don’t Get Cozy in Persia”) of Made for This Moment, Max Lucado tells of a date he went on in college. With spring in the air, Max thought it would be great fun to romp barefoot through a field of winter wheat. A lush, green, inviting field.
However, Max and his date soon discovered that, while winter wheat fields look green on the surface, they’re rocky and sticky underneath. Three or four steps later, they came to a sudden stop. And, Max bemoans, that day love died in a Texas wheat field.
So, Pastor Lucado notes, we’ve all been fooled, deceived, and tricked. Lured into a field of green only to find it masquerading as a bed of thorns. Therefore, Max cautions, tough times often trigger poor decisions for those stuck in winter. We:
- lose our bearings
- forget God’s call
- exchange our convictions for the bright lights of Persia
Consequently, Max relates the point of the first chapter of Esther: Persia is lying to you. In truth, it’s one gigantic wheat field. Indeed, Pastor Lucado counsels, we need to view ourselves as caretakers:
“We, too, are caretakers. Caretakers of the message of Jesus. He was born through the lineage of the Jews. Today he is born through the lives of his saints. As you and I live out our faith, he is delivered into a faith-famished culture. We have the hope the world needs.”
In conclusion, Max reminds us, that, like Esther, God created us for more than moody kings and flashy parties. Because God created us to serve Him and be a temple of the Holy Spirit. For Persia offers nothing. It’s faith versus façade.
Today’s question: How can we witness as billboards of God’s message? Please share.
Coming Monday: the Christmas Short Meditation, “Cry out and shout all round about”
Tomorrow’s blog: “Conform or be transformed”
