Devotional: Be Real, Strong

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way, say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…He will come to save you.’  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Isaiah 35:3-6, Matthew 11:3-5

Often as I prepare for and look back on a business venture, I remember Christ’s response to the “Are you the real thing?” question asked by John the Baptist. John had put in a fair effort for the kingdom. He had run his race, and it ended in a prison. Now he wanted some assurance that the effort he invested was not misguided. Jesus gives this pregnant reply.

Jesus told them, “Go back and tell John what's going on: 

   The blind see, 

 The lame walk, 

   Lepers are cleansed, 

   The deaf hear, 

   The dead are raised, 

   The wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side…”

Wouldn’t this be an excellent scorecard, a good summary of one’s work?  What do you want reported about your business dealings?  Are you expecting great things?  When a delegation comes to your current place of business asking the pointed questions, “Is this a kingdom business, or should we look somewhere else?  Are you a marketplace minister, or are we at the wrong address?” what do you answer? 

Stay in the game. Strengthen your hands, speak positively to each other, know that God will come.  Then expect, anticipate, stand on tiptoes, crane your neck, raise your sights to see the awesome things that God wants to do in your business, in every all aspect of your life.

Be strong, do not fear; your God will come…He will come to save you. 

Reflections

• What is the parallel between your scorecard and that of Jesus?
  
  
• How can ‘just staying in the game, waiting actively for him to come and save, and being strong’ further God’s work?