Monday Memo 314: I Am What I Am

I returned to Zimbabwe from Israel a few hours ago and it was a great trip. Everyone came back happy, healthy, with all their luggage, with a lot of great memories and with no money. That's what a trip to Holy Land will do for you! If you are interested in our daily activities there for the last 12 days, you can read my daily entries on my blog site. And if you would like to join us in Israel and Egypt next year around this time, please write and let me know. And don't forget about the Alaska Cruise scheduled for July 4-11, 2008.

I have a busy week ahead and it has reminded me of something that happened to me when I was in a busy season 20 years ago. The lessons I learned then have served me well and I thought I would share them with you this week. What are those lessons? I'm glad you asked, but to find out you will have to read on.

SOMETHING HAS TO GO!

Twenty years ago I was too busy and involved in way too many projects, or so I thought. I decided to spend some time seeking the Lord to determine what I could and should eliminate from my calendar and life. I was certain that something had to go.

I prayed, listened and kept a journal, yet nothing happened. I got neither relief nor insight. Then one night I had a dream. I don't remember the dream; I only remember that a voice spoke to me in the dream and gave me a verse from the Bible. I never had that happen before or since that I woke up with a verse on my mind. But it happened that night and I clearly heard 1 Corinthians 15:10. I was not familiar with that verse and had no idea what it said.

So finally I got out a Bible and this is what I read:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

The meaning to me was clear right away. God wasn't going to send any less for me to do. He was actually going to send more, but was also going to teach me how to handle more. He did, I have and the lessons I learned from that verse continue to bear fruit 20 years later.

THE LESSONS, PLEASE.

Here's what I learned:

1. By the grace of God I am what I am -- People ask me all the time how I am able to do what I do. My standard is answer is that I stopped doing what I can't do so that I can do what I do best. Who made me a good administrator? God by His grace. Who didn't make me a Sunday-morning pastor? God by His grace. Who made with a love for sports and a great sense of humor? God by His grace. I decided back then that if anyone had a problem with who I am, that's their problem. i cannot use that as an excuse for bad behavior or rudeness, but I can use it as a foundation upon which to live my life.

2. His grace toward me did not prove vain -- It is possible to receive God's grace in vain! You can talk about God's purpose, swim in God's purpose, write about it and meditate on it. Yet your purpose is to make you productive in the will of God, nothing more, nothing less. I don't know how many days I have yet to live, so I want to maximize them all. I am grateful for God's grace and I want His grace to yield a return that will be pleasing to Him.

3. I labored more than all of them -- I knew then and there that God wanted me to be a model of productivity and hard work. I was not to engage in just any hard work, but labor that was related to my purpose and sphere of influence. I live in Africa five months a year. Two years ago I spent 22 nights on a plane flying somewhere. Why? Because God wants me to work hard and produce! He has taught me how both to manage and have faith for time, and I know I can squeeze as much out of 24 hours as anyone. I do this not because I have to but because I choose to. It is a joy to me.

4. Not I, but the grace of God with me -- My hard work and productivity cannot be a source of pride, nor can I impose my work load or expectations on someone else. It's what God has for me to do. Yes, I cooperate and partner with God. Yet if He wasn't with me, helping me every step of the way, I would not be able to do anything, as the psalmist reminds us: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalm 127:1-2 NAS).

So there you have my lessons learned from 1 Corinthians 15:10. Why don't you meditate on that verse and see how you can apply it to your current life and situation? Are you as productive as you would like to be? Do you feel like you're too busy? Do you sense God's grace helping you on a daily basis? Reflect on those questions and feel free to share your insights or answers with my readers by writing a comment to this entry on the site where it is posted. And of course, as always, I wish you a great week as you seek to be who you are by and in God's grace.

Comments

[Melvin]

I belive days spent in places of "Egypt/wanderings" are not empty. To even think it was unnecessary for Israelites to go to Egypt for 430 years is to challenge Gods wisdom & justice. Dr. Stankos' stay as a Sunday Morning pastor may have been necessary to perfect his pastoral touch in all he does today, through the things that he suffered at that time.