John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
Two dear friends of mine have recently lost their husbands. It is heartbreaking, hard and so sad for those left here on this earth. But, as Christians, we find hope in the lives that were lived while on earth…we find our healing in the “book that was written”.
While listening to the service of our friend Tim, my mind kept going to those words found in John. Things were said that afternoon I have never heard at a memorial.
My friends son spoke first. He is a wonderful Christian man who has been raised by Godly parents. He began by saying, “Many of you have asked and will ask what you can do for the family – there will be things you can do – there have been things you’ve done already. But, if you want to know what you can do to honor my father – to keep HIS memory alive – this is what I will tell you…
Be faithful to your wife – Honor her. Go to church.
Have a relationship with the Father.”
That is what this son saw modeled in the home he grew up in. A father who honored his mother. A mother that respected and felt privileged to be married to his father. And I begin to consider; What can this verse teach me? “Jesus did many other things well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
When the end comes for us – what will be in our book?
What will we be known for?
Our book will be full – but full of what?
Knowing my friend and the life he led – the example he left – I know what is in his book. It is filled with:
gracious thoughts
friendships forged through uplifting notes that were sent frequently
uninhibited love for his family
intentional acts of kindness towards others
a desire to do good because he was Gods’ child
Humility; an amazing legacy of sports records that unless you heard them from others – you knew nothing about them.
In his book you will find a man whose sons and grands had a hero to look up to, a quiet leader who never quit.
And I go back to my book – our books – what will be in them? What should be in them?
Romans 12:9-12 “Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
We are in the beginnings of 2021, a year already full of challenges. A year when hard decisions will inevitably be made. A year to evaluate what needs to be held tight and what needs to be let go. A time to COMMIT to what is good in the eyes of God. A time to choose what will be “written in our book”. How do we choose?
We stay focused on HIS WORD.
- Commit to let our love be genuine. Commit to show kindness towards others, grace to those we do not understand, concern for those who are hurting.
- Commit to love one another with brotherly affection. Commit to outdo one another in showing honor. Gentleness, caring, respect…all things we yearn for in our own lives…all things God gives us…all things God desires we share with others.
- Commit to not be slothful in zeal but to be fervent in serving our Lord. Serve with a whole heart – a passionate desire – a deep rooted need to give to others what has been given through Christ.
- Commit to rejoice, be patient…pray. Let every breath we take be one more moment we are showing others the delight we have found in our Savior. Commit to be persistent in showing God’s love to not only others but also to ourselves. Commit to talk to our Father.
Our friends were good men. They were passionate about their families and their faith. These men loved their wives and exemplified to others what it meant to commit and show honor to the wife God had blessed them with. They were not perfect. But…they understood grace, hope, and forgiveness. They had a personal relationship with our Father that was evident in every aspect of their lives. Tim and Mike knew without a doubt , just as the Israelites did in Isaiah 44:22, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
Their books on this earth may be finished but their legacy of love, faith and honoring others will always remain.
Honor shown to others…honors God.
Listen to His Voice,
lee Ann
