A Cracked Piece of China

I simply want to give a good gift to my Heavenly Father. I want to hear well done.

August 20

I hear Jesus telling me to just be still. Just Be. Cease striving. Stop trying to prove yourself worthy, or earn what was freely given. I know this is true, yet somehow I so easily slip back into performance. I am a human being, not a human doing. Again, I know this. My greatest desire is to partner with God and do something for His kingdom. When I see my Savior face to face, I want to hear well done good and faithful servant. If I've done nothing, how can He say well done? This is where I struggle. How do I find the balance when so many of God’s principles seem to be an oxymoron? My salvation costs nothing, and yet it costs everything. He died so we could have life. The more love you give away, the more love you have.

I don’t have all the answers, but I know this; what I do, needs to flow out of my love for Him, not a sense of duty, fear, or to feel better about myself. Motive is everything. If I volunteer because I feel guilty, or because I need a little acknowledgment, a little love, I should just stay home. I need to volunteer because I love Him and He asked me to love others. My giving is out of love, and compassion. I tell people about Jesus because I want others to know what I know, and to have what I have. How can you not share such good news? I can’t imagine my life without God and His care for me.

I often feel like a small child, offering a small piece of broken china, found in a yard sale, and wrapped higgledy-piggledy in leftover wrapping paper. I paid for it with my own money. I think it is beautiful. I can’t wait to give Him this little token of my affection. With a tender smile, never even hinting at the brokenness, God graciously accepts my shabby offering. Because it was given out of love He receives it with a heart filled with grace and love. I am left feeling like I have given Him something of real worth, and He reminds me that I have. I have given Him my love and devotion.