daily devo: "THIS IS GOD’S DAY"
Rev. Reuben K. Youngdahl, grandfather to Eric Youngdahl and Senior Pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church from 1938-1968, was widely known and respected for his pastoral leadership and his uplifting messages of God's love. These messages were published into devotional books so that people might find hope in the promises found in Jesus Christ.
One of his many books was titled, "Going God’s Way.” Pastor Youngdahl issues the challenge for people to go ahead and live today in the faithfulness of God. In his words: “Live each day by itself. Begin and end each one in communion with God. Life’s meaning will be made clear, and its challenge will summon you to follow the way of the Lord, and claim the triumphant life He is able to give you.”
May 24
Doing a Bit More Than Is Expected
“Let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.” -Galatians 6:4
It was Jim’s first intercollegiate competition, and he had practiced long and diligently for the track meet. A friend offered a word of advice, “If you do not win first place and the gold medal, you may win the silver one.”
“I never try for second place!” Jim replied quietly, with steady, clear eyes. This youth’s ideals were high, where they belonged. But unlike Jim, many of us set our ideals far too low. The goals we set should always challenge, and call for the last desperate spurt above and byond anything we have done before. We should never be content with our work, no matter how impressive our accomplishments or how great our influence on others. Always new goals should loom. Our talents will be wasted, if we stop and say, “Well, I’ve done enough.” We should be plodding persisters, not easy quitters. In every area of life we should do more than is expected of us.
A group of students was observing an eminent surgeon stitching up a wound after an operation. He always tied three knots where most other doctors usually tied two. This was his explanation: “The third knot is my sleeping knot. It may not be necessary to tie it, but it is that much safer, and I sleep much better because of it.”
This is only one example of the satisfaction and peace that come from doing more than is expected of us. It is also true of going the second mile. Those who go out of their way to show kindness and love to their fellow men, not only bring blessings to others, but receive deep and abiding satisfaction themselves. They find that, the harder they work for good, the more wonderful life becomes.
Too many people are just “getting by,” and are pitching their lives to the low “mean” average. To be a Christian demands that you give everything you have. In this manner, the longer you live the more you will want to do, because you will have a greater appreciation of what God has done for you.”
TODAY’S THOUGHT: Your job may be small, but it is no less important. The jigsaw puzzle without its tiniest piece is not complete.
