Keep On Doing Good—Two2Grow, Wednesday, September 30
Keep On Doing Good—Two2Grow, Wednesday, September 30
"But I said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my God.’" Isaiah 49:4 NIV
By Emelie Stenhammar, MD
I was backing out of a parking lot outside of church once, when I had just gotten my driver’s license. I accidentally hit another car, and part of their back taillight broke. Nothing happened to my old car. I was only 18, still in high school, and I didn’t have a lot of money.
No one was around. There were no security cameras. I could easily take off and pretend this had never happened. No one would know. No one—but God.
I thank God that I was able to resist the temptation. I unsuccessfully tried to find the owner of the car. When I returned to the scene of the crime, I saw the car driving off—they had not noticed the broken lamp. Again, I was tempted to let it go. But instead, I ran after the car, shouting and waving my hands.
You would have thought that being so honest would have paid off instantly, especially with church people. That they would have said, “Oh honey, don’t worry about it. God bless you for being so honest.” They didn’t. They got upset about the damaged lamp, scolded me, and made me empty my savings to pay for it.
I felt like the person in today’s Bible verse: “I have labored in vain and spent my strength for nothing.” Here I was, trying to do the right thing, and it cost me.
But the God who sees is also the God who rewards. “What is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
If we do the right thing, God will reward us. Initially, we might lose some, but never in the long run. Be patient. Stay faithful. God will reward you. It might not be today. I had to pay for that lamp—but boy, has God made that up to me!
Jesus, help me to do the right thing even when it is costly, knowing that one day You will reward me. Help me stay faithful, just as You are faithful to me. Amen.
By Emelie Stenhammar, MD
I was backing out of a parking lot outside of church once, when I had just gotten my driver’s license. I accidentally hit another car, and part of their back taillight broke. Nothing happened to my old car. I was only 18, still in high school, and I didn’t have a lot of money.
No one was around. There were no security cameras. I could easily take off and pretend this had never happened. No one would know. No one—but God.
I thank God that I was able to resist the temptation. I unsuccessfully tried to find the owner of the car. When I returned to the scene of the crime, I saw the car driving off—they had not noticed the broken lamp. Again, I was tempted to let it go. But instead, I ran after the car, shouting and waving my hands.
You would have thought that being so honest would have paid off instantly, especially with church people. That they would have said, “Oh honey, don’t worry about it. God bless you for being so honest.” They didn’t. They got upset about the damaged lamp, scolded me, and made me empty my savings to pay for it.
I felt like the person in today’s Bible verse: “I have labored in vain and spent my strength for nothing.” Here I was, trying to do the right thing, and it cost me.
But the God who sees is also the God who rewards. “What is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
If we do the right thing, God will reward us. Initially, we might lose some, but never in the long run. Be patient. Stay faithful. God will reward you. It might not be today. I had to pay for that lamp—but boy, has God made that up to me!
Jesus, help me to do the right thing even when it is costly, knowing that one day You will reward me. Help me stay faithful, just as You are faithful to me. Amen.