PODCAST
Sometimes The Way Up Is Down
October 27th, 2012
Matthew 23:1-12
I hate when I try my best to look good and end up making a fool of myself. Some of my stories are still too painful to share. By contrast, what a privilege it is to be honored unexpectedly.
One time the local chamber of commerce held an appreciation dinner. My wife and I were invited to sit at the head table. The guest speaker was a United States senator. The two of us, along with the senator and his wife, had to eat barbecued chicken on stage with 400 people watching. Senator Jackson asked, “Is there any way to eat barbecued chicken with dignity?” I replied that the most dignified way to eat it was to fully enjoy it.
After you and I have struggled through life trying to do the right thing and be worthy of the high calling we have in Christ Jesus, imagine the joy of getting to heaven and hearing Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:21a). We can’t expect others to always notice the good that we do. The surprise will be that Jesus noticed things we were not even aware we had done.
