I always look back on a project, a party, an endeavor, or event into which I put time and energy in order to gauge how it went as to success or bust. If I determine it a success, then I sleep with a smile in my heart and thoughts of how well it went because of my best efforts. If I surmise that it was a bust, then agony ensues with what should have been done differently and/or what improvements can be made next time. Neither is profitable in every circumstance. More often than not, we gauge our successes by the results we wish for and if they are absent, then we wear the label 'failure' or so stamp the whole event.
Why must man center everything around himself? Why do we measure success by the world's standards - whatever they are? We hold in our heads what an outcome should look like and if ours is less than, then cursed be our time wasted and energy given. But...what if we are getting it all wrong because we started with a faulty premise believing a faulty promise?
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
When we commit our efforts to the Lord, He leads in triumphal procession...no matter what we might think of the fruit borne from them. He never promised we would be successful. He only asks that we be faithful and obedient. Thankfully, we may never see a report card indicating 'pass' or 'fail' or even a check mark that says 'project completed.' We do not operate from an earthly realm, but from a spiritual one. Rewards are yet to come.
God sees the true outcome of all we do. So, the next time you host a crowd, but your meal is overdone, take comfort. The next time you speak/teach/share a testimony of any kind and you can't remember where a verse is found or the right words to say, take comfort. When your best is just not good enough, know that God has prepared the outcome you might never see. The truth is...your best and my best will never be good enough. He takes our best, our least, our worst and turns it into what will bring Him the most glory. Be comforted by that beautiful fact.
So, put the magnifying glass down. Quit looking for anything redeeming in what you do. Instead, enjoy the peace that comes from knowing He will take what you and I offer and give it more meaning than we ever could on our best day.
This passage speaks to those who minister the Gospel. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
The faulty premise of thinking that everything done well yields success is based on a faulty promise that says everything will turn out great if we do our best.
Jesus took all of our failures and sins. Romans 8:27-28 is His promise to make them good.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
"What seemed to be defeat was actually victory.
The Resurrection morning was Hell's gloomiest day."
Sinclair Ferguson
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