Hello everyone!
We all want to do for the Lord, simply because we love Him. However I think that it’s not what we DO for Him that touches His heart most of all – it’s what we BE for HIm. I’ve often said that we are not human “doings” but human “beings”. Sometimes I tend to forget that and try to do – and then do some more. We can get so caught up in the doing that we forget about the being.
In Lessons I learned from the Lord, there’s a chapter in which I write about my Grandmother’s soup. She worked hard in putting the leftovers together for a good meal, but the vegetables weren’t the best part – the love she put in it was.
We can do many things for the Lord, but even in the doing, I believe the “being” matters most of all. “Be” His hands, be His eyes, be His love and peace – as we are doing. For empty “doing” goes through the motions, but add the “being” and it changes hearts.
That’s the difference. For what is the sandwich without the filling? It sustains but is not as satisfying. The world gives out of “doing” – let’s add the filling and give out of “being”.
Blessings, Evelyn
PS To read my articles for Inner Voice Magazine, go to www.innervoicemag.com and click on OUR VOICE at the top of the home page. Then scroll down over the three pages to read: God’s Love Notes, The Sparkle and Sound of Crystal, The Fragrance of Fall, Listen to His Heartbeat, Do-Overs, Just Whistle, and End of Your Rope (not in order on pages).
We had a missions focus at our church yesterday and we had the opportunity to share on our missions experince in Mongolia. Evelyn, what you shared is wonderful. What we shared may be just a simiar thought. It is not about our doing “our works”, God can do what every He wants through anybody, it is not about our sacrafice… it is simple about our obedience to the One we love.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Psalm 40: 6-8 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
Mark 12:33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Leon
Dear Leon,
Thank you for your wise comments. It’s really all about the heart! How He loves it when we show others His heart though our hands, mouth, and our heart for them. You have certainly done just that in your ministry with helping those in Mongolia through Christian Veterinary Mission. I’m sure He must be smiling……
Blessings, Evelyn
This is exactly what the Lord told me when I was a new believer. I felt so bad that when I would stand before Jesus I would have nothing to give to show how much I loved Him. He said, “It’s not what I want you to do but what I want you to be.” I’m glad that He started me off with that lesson.
Dear Pat,
Thank you for responding. Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord doesn’t load us down with a long list of “to do’s” in order to receive His love? Yes, He does ask us to things, but it is always out of His love for us and when we do , out of our love for Him. It takes away the “work” and instead gives us joy.
Blessings, Evelyn