Saturday, April 17, 2004

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3.14 NRSV)
Morris F. Udall, former secretary of the interior and senator, lost an eye in an accident when he was six years old. Children would cruelly tease him about the eye. He started poking fun at himself in self-defense. Eventually that kind of humor became part of his personality. He learned early on to compensate for that lost eye by also working harder than other kids worked. In his junior and senior years in high school, he was editor of the yearbook, quarterback of the football team, led the basketball team in scoring, had his own dance band, and wrote a political column for the weekly newspaper. Later he rose to national prominence. He traces part of his success back to that lost eye.

We are told that the greatest door-to-door Bible salesman of all time stuttered. He made up his mind that he was going to turn his disadvantage into advantage. After making the presentation with a lot of stuttering, he would close with these words: "Do you want to b-b-b-buy the Bible now or do you w-w-want me to r-r-read it to you?" That young man turned what could have been a stumbling block into a stepping stone.

Because he had within himself the transcendent power of God, St. Paul knew that every form of opposition could be turned to opportunity. When he was shipwrecked or imprisoned or otherwise delayed in his journeys, he took the opportunity to witness to new persons about Christ. He knew that God would use those opportunities to cause the faith to sprout up in unexpected places. While imprisoned he wrote some of the loftiest words in all human culture. If you know what you are doing is from God, you don't give up just because you have been blown off course. You assume that is where God means for you to be, and you go on doing what you believe God would have you do.

Dear God, may I overcome the obstacles of my life to faithfully fulfill your calling. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

Help Promote Devotions.Net | Past Devotions

Click here to join Daily Devotions newsletter

| Home | Bible | Devotions | Humor | Visitors | Links |