Things Come Together

It's been a grueling couple of weeks of study, business travel, endless meetings, and presentation deadlines. The climax came a few days ago when I came down with a nasty cold on my way to Chicago for a business presentation. Feeling lousy, I remember questioning everything...why me? why now? why this job? why here? After two days of flight delays and a NyQuil induced brain fog, I finally made it back home and began to recover; emotionally and physically.

Then on Saturday morning, I sat down with a cup of coffee and began to read over a Bible verse that a friend and I have been working to memorize, Colossians 1:24-29. To paraphrase the passage, Christian leaders should be about the business of admonishing and teaching others about Christ. It will not be an easy road but we can rejoice in our suffering if we are working in obedience to the Lord. We can persevere in our labor if we rely upon God's strength which makes us mighty men. Apostle Paul's words to the Colossians could just as well have been a personal note to me. This passage just brought it all together for me on Saturday morning. If I believe my leadership influence is a tool to minister to others, then I should expect suffering but I should rest assured in the victory because the Lord works in me to accomplish His purposes. Let's allow God to use us in a mighty way this week, regardless of our human frailty or fault!