Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

Years ago, it was one of the highlights of the summer for a family to go to a state or county fair.

Of course, very few of today's local fairs have the significance and importance of London's Crystal Palace Exhibition which opened in 1851.

It was the golden age of steam. On display were steam plows, steam locomotives, steam looms, steam organs, and even a steam cannon. Among all those wonderful exhibits, the first-prize winner was a steam invention composed of 7,000 parts. When the machine was turned on, its pulleys, whistles, bells, and gears made a lot of noise. Unfortunately, the steam contraption didn't do a thing! Really. Nothing.

This all goes to prove noise and movement don't always equal accomplishment.

When I look at our expressways I wonder if some of our comings and goings might not fit under that same category: movement without accomplishment.

Look at the people, all rushing from place to place, many of them impatient, frustrated.
People-like the moving parts in the contraption above-can move about a lot but not necessarily accomplish much in terms of merit, importance, or lasting quality. All too often noise and movement have taken the place of purpose and accomplishment.

Those of us who know the Savior should be thankful Jesus has given our lives a little fuller aspect.

Because we have a God who cares for us and a Savior who has redeemed us, we have been given a direction, a purpose, a job to do: our job is to share His great grace and sacrifice with an unbelieving world.

That's not to say I'm going to change the world. I can't. That is the Holy Spirit's job. My job is to put myself into the hands of the Maker and do what He wants me to do. And what He wants is for Christians to have spiritual children.


From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"



THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, show me the plans You have for me and help me be loyal to You. For saving my soul and giving a great purpose to my present life, I give thanks. May I be made into a blessing for others and an honorable witness to Jesus. In His Name. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 136, 146    1 Corinthians 3

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