“Above all, desire to please Christ; dread his disapproval above everything else.”
… Rowland Croucher, Sunrise Sunset [1997]

This last Sunday I was recruited for the opportunity to drive our church van to pick up some members of our church at various locations. I had done it before, but not with the “new” van that has a full size door and a hydraulic lift to accept wheelchairs. As I picked up my last passenger, she came out to the van with a wheeled walker (I’m sure there’s a more technical name for it). Uh oh. I didn’t know how to work the hydraulic lift. Thankfully, she was able and willing to use the stairs… so I was able to get her to church. Needless to say, since I could not find anyone to quickly tell me how to work the lift, I spent most of the time not in worship, but in trying to figure out the lift. Persistence paid off and I figured it out. As I saw her come through the doors toward the van after church, I could see the smile when she saw the lift was down, waiting for her.

But, the question is do I approach all aspects of my life with such determination of service? Consciously I didn’t think of my actions as pleasing to Christ. However, how would I have felt if I had not exhausted all efforts to accomodate His body? Each of is His, and I for one need to do a better job of intentionally treating you all (and others) with the same sense of awe. Do I approach situations and opportunities with that same intention? Sometimes I am pretty sure I know what Jesus would do, the question is usually what will I do in light of that?

Matthew 4:48 – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”