Well Done
They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” (Mark 7:37)
In a Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown, Linus, and Lucy are on their way to school. It’s show and tell day. Lucy asks Linus if he has remembered to bring anything for show and tell.
“Yes,” Linus answers, “I have a couple of things here to show the class.” He then unfolds some papers. “These are copies I’ve been making of some of the Dead Sea scrolls,” he says. Holding them up for Charlie Brown and Lucy to inspect he continues. “This is a duplicate of the scroll of Isaiah, chapters 38-40. It was made from 17 pieces of sheep skin and was found in a cave by a Bedouin shepherd.”
Pulling out another piece of paper he says, “Here I have made a copy of the earliest known fragment ever found. It’s a portion of I Samuel 23: 9-16. I’ll try to explain to the class how these manuscripts have influenced modern scholarship.”
Lucy responds, “Very interesting, Linus,” and she turns to Charlie Brown and asks, “Are you bringing something for show and tell Charlie Brown?”
“Well,” says a dejected Charlie Brown, “I had a little red fire engine here but I think I’ll just forget it.”
Do we, sometime, feel like Charlie Brown in trying to live out the Christian life? The truth is – we don’t have to do it better or try harder. Jesus has already paid the full price for our human sin and situation. God simply calls us to step out in obedience.
Our theme for the day comes from words spoken about Jesus. After he had taught and after he had healed, the people said, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” What more can anybody ask of us than to do our simple best at being obedient to God?
Heavenly Father, your obedience led your son to the cross to cover my sins. Help me to simply be obedient to you in heaven, so that others will see your love through me. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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