The usefulness of my Life

We read a story this morning written by Brennan Manning about a man who he spent some time with working and serving in France.  A group of them were talking about substandard wages and how their employers were never seen at church on Sunday, etc... and this man responded with a tear rolling down his check, " they don't understand."  

It immediately reminded him of what Jesus said on the cross.... " forgive them for they know not what they do."  

This same man ended up dying at 54 years old of cancer.  The last years of his life he spent working and sharing the love of Jesus daily at a local park.  When he did not show up one day, the people who looked forward to his daily visits at the park reported it and found out he had passed in his small apartment. 

In his journal by his bed - his last entry read: 

"All that is not the love of God has no meaning for me.  I can truthfully say that I have no interest in anything but the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. If God wants it to, my life will be useful through my words and witness. If he wants it too, my life will bear fruit through my prayers and sacrifices. But the usefulness of my life is his concern, not mine. It would be indecent of me to worry about that."

We are embracing the lesson for us this morning that ...we should not worry or work hard at the significance of our lives, let God use us how He will.  Let us pray for a heart settled with God on who we are and who we are not and live a life of love.