“What makes Christianity different from other religions?” If asked that question, how would you respond? Take a minute.

Decades ago, that query was central to a debate on comparative religions in which world experts sat together and presented their ideas.

Perhaps, God appeared in human form? Nope. Other religions had varying versions of that incarnation. Same with the resurrection. In the middle of the discussion, apologist C.S. Lewis entered the room and heard that his colleagues were determining Christianity’s #1 unique contribution among world religions.

It took Lewis no time to answer. “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” Lewis’s friends could not argue.

It was, after all, the only religion in which God’s love is unconditional. It cannot be earned. Jesus made sure of that.

Do you ever struggle with that? I sure do. Earning God’s blessings comes easier to me than merely being a blessing to Him.

If I rack enough “Good Girl” points, surely God is happy with me. So, I volunteer. I speak words of encouragement. I read my Bible. I pray. “God, you are noticing, aren’t you? Don’t forget to log today’s efforts into your little white book, okay?”

Philip Yancey simplifies “Grace” for us in his book What’s So Amazing About Grace? “Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more—no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes.

And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less—no amount of racism or pride or pornography or adultery or even murder.

Grace means that God already loves us as much as an infinite God can possibly love.

Powerful stuff! Don’t you wish you loved like that? I do. Sometimes I have to remind myself to love irritating people, to love them with no narcissistic, yoyo strings attached.

You know, unconditionally.

But the truth is, it does not come naturally. Justice is an easier pill for me to cram down someone’s throat. People should get what they deserve. I mean, some crimes are simply unforgiveable…except, of course, not according to God.

Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 men, cut them up and cannibalized them. On death row, he had a conversion experience; he was baptized and asked Jesus to be his Lord, a story told in the book Dark Journey, Deep Grace.

His victims’ families and friends were outraged. Most claimed that he did not deserve grace. He deserved to rot in prison. Other loved ones who watched the interview in which Dahmer appeared contrite weren’t so sure.

When asked, “Is anyone ever beyond forgiveness?” no one felt comfortable answering the question.

It’s the Mt. 6:14-15 scripture that keeps on stinging: Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.

In other words, show Grace. Maybe, hopefully, someday it will come naturally.

Keys to the Kingdom

On a warm fall afternoon, I was relaxing while reading in the pergola. I was totally focused on the book, and not paying a lick of attention to my surroundings, when I heard the pitter-patter of feet on the flooring. I looked up just in time to see a groundhog quickly trot right by me. He was as cute as he was fat — I guess he’d been stocking up on lard so he could hibernate nicely through the winter. This wasn’t the first time I’d spotted him on my property, but I’d never laid eyes on him this close. While visiting with my daughter about my pet groundhog, I mentioned that I wanted to name him. She suggested Fatty Jacky (a nutty character from the crazy Jerry Lewis movie, “The Disorderly Orderly.“) Since we both guffawed, I knew that was the perfect name for him!

As believers, being asleep at the wheel (not paying attention to our spiritual walk) is very dangerous. God’s Word warns us to stay alert and keep a sharp lookout. Since I wasn’t paying attention to what was going on, Fatty Jacky was able to sneak up on me from “out of nowhere.” However, if I’d been keeping a close watch, I would have seen him coming way before he arrived at the pergola. “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8,9 NLT). Just as lions go after the feeble, the young, and the stragglers, the devil looks for those who are isolated, weak, or totally unfocused on God so he can devour/destroy them.

The author of the Book of Hebrews gives Christians practical ways to stay alert. “Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent“ (Hebrews 6:11,12 NLT). We’re reminded that loving people will help guard against growing disinterested and becoming spiritual sluggards in our Christian walk. Jesus doesn’t call believers to be passive followers, He calls us to be passionate followers.

There are so many distractions in today’s world. When I fire up my computer, all kinds of stuff pops up. If I’m not determined to stay focused on my goal, I can get side-tracked looking at junk I don’t even want to see or read. The same thing can happen to believers in their spiritual life. It’s imperative not to just go with the flow, ignore God’s Word, or disregard plain ol’ common sense. “This is why it is so crucial that we be all the more engaged and attentive to the truths that we have heard so that we do not drift off course” (Hebrews 2:1 TPT).

“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete” (Hebrews 12:2 CEV). The hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” composed by Helen H. Lemmel bears the truth of this scripture with these lyrics: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

The Key: Keep your eyes peeled so you won’t be devoured by the devil or get run over by a groundhog.

The last two years have been difficult for Bourbon County, along with most of rural America, especially for the 45 residents we lost to COVID19 and their families.

According to the Kansas Statistical Abstract (“Abstract”) released in September, the pain is economic as well as personal. Perusing the Abstract, here are some notable trends that indicate the stress under which we have all lived in the last two years:

Beginning with money and banking, our nationwide economy has been awash in cash due to the stimulus checks and deficit spending coming out of Washington D.C.

Accordingly, bank deposits grew by 15.9% in Kansas during 2020; by comparison, Bourbon County bank deposits grew by only 9.1%. This is indicative of how Federal spending disproportionately favors urban areas.

Another important indicator of economic success is spending within our county, primarily indicated by a measure called Trade Pull Factor. This measures the amount of money spent in Bourbon County compared to the income earned by its residents.

Over the last six years, we have hovered around the 70% level, meaning that for every dollar earned by a resident, 70 cents are spent in our county; this includes nonresidents who spend their money here while visiting. This measure dropped to 68% in 2020; the logical explanation is that we have had fewer visitors. The number also indicates that we have an opportunity to evaluate our own spending habits, and consider spending more of our disposable income in our county; it benefits us all.

Employment numbers continue to be difficult for us. The Bourbon County unemployment number jumped from 4.2% in 2019 to 5.6% in 2020.

Why did we have so many help wanted ads alongside so many unemployed people? One can only conclude that some decided that they could live off stimulus money. Hopefully, our unemployment numbers will move in the right direction when the money out of Washington D.C. slows down to a gush. Current numbers indicate we are a still a net importer of workers.

After making some significant gains in per capita personal income in prior years, the Bourbon County growth rate in 2019 slowed to 2.4% compared to a statewide number of 4.2%. Given our continued demand for additional workers, I am hopeful the growth in personal income in the county will get back on track.

One positive trend that continued into 2019 is the drop in the county’s poverty rate. This rate peaked in 2017 at 18.3% of Bourbon County residents; that rate has continued to fall to 15.4% in 2019. It will be interesting to see how COVID19 affects this number in 2020 and 2021.

These numbers can be difficult to wade through, but it is important for us to understand the trends in order to propose effective solutions. Bourbon County REDI is committed to staying informed in order to be a part of the solution.

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C.S. Lewis

“You must picture me alone in that room at Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term (“summer”) of 1929 I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England” (Surprised By Joy).

Those words speak to how hard C.S. Lewis, Professor of English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, fought to convince himself there was no God. Perhaps you know him as the author of Mere Christianity or The Chronicles of Narnia, two of his most famous writings. Disillusioned that God did not heal his mother from cancer, Lewis, age 10, left his childhood faith to throw himself into the defense of rationalism/atheism. That belief was reinforced when years later, as a student at Oxford, he found himself deeply troubled by suffering in the world, questioning how a loving God could allow such evil. Ironically, his firm belief in the nonexistence of God made him rethink some of his position’s inconsistencies. After years of intellectual struggle, Lewis found faith to be rational. Not only did he find factors such as the beauty of nature and art, joy, and even people undermined the foundation of his atheism, he also was able to see evil and suffering as an argument for God and Christianity, not for atheism.

In Mere Christianity, Lewis wrote: “My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. Just how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust? … Thus in the very act of trying to prove that God did not exist—in other words, that the whole of reality was senseless—I found I was forced to assume that one part of reality—namely my idea of justice—was full of sense. Consequently, atheism turns out to be too simple.  If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning.” It’s little wonder that many consider C.S. Lewis to be the greatest Christian apologist of the 20^th century. Sorrow entered Lewis’s life again when Joy, his wife of only three years, died from cancer at the age of 45. Lewis was left to face the problem of grief and unanswered prayer. He wrote that “even after all hope was gone, even on the last night before her death, there were patins of bright gold. Two of the last things she said were ‘You have made ne happy’ and ‘I am at peace with God.’”

I am encouraged by Lewis who boldly admitted the struggle of his faith but later found blessings amongst troubles. The author wrote that he was grateful for the miraculous cure for his wife’s first bout with cancer and that God granted him two more years with her before she died. Still, in Mere Christianity he wrote this: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” Can anyone say it better?

Keys to the Kingdom

We’ve heard the colloquial expression, “She can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.“ There’s some truth to that because we’re not supposed to talk on the phone and drive at the same time. Blabbing is a huge distraction from whatever I’m trying to do. That’s why I don’t really want anyone in the kitchen while I’m fixing a meal — “I can’t think what I’m doing.” One time I was talking on the phone while walking briskly in my pasture (killing two birds with one stone). After the conversation ended, I walked to the house and suddenly realized my legs had turned to rubber and were completely worn out. I hadn’t the foggiest idea I‘d talked and walked for an hour!

We don’t know much about Enoch in the Old Testament, but his brief biography always inspires me. He was the great grandfather of Noah, and a prophet who preached to the unbelievers of his day about God‘s judgment to come. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:23,24 NLT). This particular Bible translation specifically mentions how Enoch lived — which was walking in “close fellowship with God.”

Enoch’s departure was a fading away, a ceasing to be here. Can you imagine the possibility of God saying: “You know what, Enoch, we‘ve walked so far today that we‘re closer to My house than yours. Why don‘t you just come home with Me?” Enoch was translated into God’s presence without experiencing death. He simply walked his race right through the pearly gates. I wonder what Enoch’s family thought when he didn’t come home for supper after his daily walk.

In 1963, J. S. Eastman composed the lyrics and music to the song, “I’m Nearer Home (Than I was Yesterday)” as recorded by the Happy Goodman Family. I wonder if Enoch‘s life could have inspired these words: “I’m nearer home than I was yesterday. I’m closer to God along the way. Each step I take, each prayer I pray, I’m nearer home than I was yesterday.” Enoch had persevering attention for God and was an excellent model of what it meant to draw close to God. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NKJV).

The New Testament records Enoch as a great example of faith: “It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying — ‘he disappeared, because God took him.‘ For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God‘” (Hebrews 11:5 NLT).

I’m grateful that God continues to work with me as I walk with Him. “I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV). It’s comforting to know I’m a work in progress until my last breath. If believers keep walking in close fellowship with God, we’ll keep coming up higher and higher in our trust and obedience. And one amazing day we’ll find ourselves in the splendors of heaven with all the other heroes of faith.

The Key: Keep walking and talking with God and, when all is said and done, He’ll take you Home.

The foundation of every business transaction is trust. I hire a contractor because I trust they will do a quality job, even when the work is below ground or behind a wall, and I cannot see it. We trust a bank to take care of our money. We believe an insurance company will honor our legitimate claims. When we open a package, we take it for granted that the food inside was prepared safely. When trust diminishes, more accountability is required to complete a business transaction, and the price increases.

During my 65 years of life, it seems as if a large quantity of trust has eroded from our culture. I do not know who or what to blame; is it the 24-hour news cycle, social media, or just the diminished character of our people? I would love to hear your views on the topic.

The precious commodity of trust was formerly one of the great benefits of living in the country versus the city; one knew their neighbors, acted in ways that benefited the community, and the consequences for violating trust were instant. In the city, an element of mistrust shadows every interaction because of the lack of familiarity; however, apparently, “familiarity does breed contempt.”

A tidal wave of mistrust has hit rural America, and we are paying the price. In the last twelve years, I have spoken to several people who moved to the country out of urban settings to find peace, community, and the trust that big cities naturally lack, and they have been sorely disappointed. Many people have headed back to the asphalt jungle.

I can draw only one conclusion: rural America is paying a much larger price for this negative megatrend than our cities. Americans are losing their faith and trust in the traditional values of small-town America. Without trust in Bourbon County, one just as well conduct business in the big city where less is expected.

We cannot change this megatrend, but we can change ourselves. How do we re-establish trust? The answers are basic and traditional:

• Be a person of your word.
• When you make a mistake, apologize.
• When a person errs and tries to correct it, forgive.
• If you are offended, go to that person, not the phone or social media.
• Be proactive in looking for ways to build community.
• Expect less from others and more from yourself.
• When you conduct a business transaction, give excellent value.

Economic development depends on the precious commodity of trust. At the heart of Bourbon County REDI is the drive to build trust in all areas of the Bourbon County geography, the business community, and the public sector. Without trust, we will not succeed. We believe that together, we can make a difference.

Last week, we left off with me threatening to do bodily harm to my husband. Admittedly, this was not a godly move, but the thought crossed my mind after he, not the first time, caused trouble for us at the Mexican border when he forgot to bring the original car title to allow us to enter that country. Now we would have to drive back to Kansas to locate the document.

We were an hour north when I had a thought: we could call our daughter-in-law, Jenn, have her open our safe, find the car title and over-night it to us at some…soon-to-be-named, San Antonio hotel. Hubby also had a thought. Perhaps the title was hidden in the briefcase located on the back seat floor, the briefcase he had already checked but failed to look in his secret hiding spot. I drove for a moment in silence, desperately trying to conjure up a lovely thought.

I mean, Philippians 4:8 sounds so easy…until you are asked to apply it. “Is that your way of asking me to exit so you can re-check your briefcase?” “Probably can’t hurt.” Ten minutes later, we were back on the road, luckless in finding the title in Dave’s little hideaway.

It was 10:15 A.M., a Saturday morning. Jenn had asked her dad to do the safe-duty at our house, but when we realized the post office closed in 15 minutes, we knew there was no way this would work. It was then that Adam called. “Sit tight,” he said, “I might have a plan.” “Does ‘sit tight’ mean to keep driving toward Kansas, but slower than the Nascar-rate I now am using, or does it mean ‘visit the Alamo and stay put’?” I asked.

Adam explained that he had several soldiers at his ranch, they were leaving the next day, and one was driving through San Antonio; perhaps he could bring the title with him. We could just find a hotel and hang out instead of making the long drive home, only to turn around and head back to the border. Which is where we are at this writing.

Yesterday evening, we stopped at a local pizza restaurant near our hotel. Its front door boasted a scribbled sign: “We are short-handed. Please be kind to our employees who took the time to show up.” This was right up my alley, since my 2022 goal was to follow the Philippians verse and “think lovely thoughts.” I ordered their $5.00 pepperoni special but asked if black olives could be added. “Also, may I have some parmesan packets?” “No problem,” said the sweet young gal behind the register.

“That will be $10.19.” “Black olives cost $5.00?” I asked. “No. It’s the extra cheese you ordered.” “Oh, I don’t want extra cheese, just the Parmesan packets.” “Oh dear, I am so, so sorry. My mistake. So sorry.” “It’s no big deal.” “Okay, you owe me $9.19.”

I handed her a $20. She gave me $1, plus change. “Um,” I began, “I gave you a $20.” “Oh dear, I am so, so sorry. My mistake. So sorry.” (This was becoming a pattern.) “It’s no big deal,” I repeated. “Well, yea, it sort of is. I closed the register. That’s a problem.” Think lovely thoughts. Think lovely thoughts. Think lovely thoughts.

We have choices every day to dwell on positives and not negatives. God wants us focused on what is going right in our lives, not on things about which we can complain. Nowadays, people feel hopeless, and any time we can spread a little joy, a little positivity, we can model for them how to do the same. No matter what the cost.

Keys to the Kingdom

Although I’ve not had the benefit of blood sisters, I’ve been blessed through the years with several fun-loving gals to make my life a rip-roaring joy. Two of them stood up with me at my wedding and I can refer to them as “partners in crime.” During the 55-mph speed-limit law in the 1970s, Jennifer and I were playing our kazoos on the way home from Tulsa and having a grand old time. She happened to glance at her speedometer and discovered she was running 80 mph. Oops! And ever since third grade, when Mrs. Oldham gave Jonita and I our well-deserved nicknames as “Giggle Boxes,“ we‘ve been laughing together for over 50 years.

Here’s the definition of partner: (1) either of two persons dancing together, (2) one who joins in an activity with another, (3) a player on the same team, (4) an ally. The Bible clearly states that believers have an unseen but very-real partner. “But when the Father sends the Advocate as My representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26 NLT). It’s comforting to know that the Holy Spirit is our helper, teacher, and reminder. We’re never alone or without direction.

He’s an around-the-clock continuous partner in the lives of all Christ followers. “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19 NKJV). The Holy Spirit comes from God as the wonderful gift promised to every believer.

Jesus said, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matthew 18:19 NLT). It’s good to have a flesh-and-blood partner to agree with you in prayer, but if your request is so deeply personal that you can’t share it, rest assured that the Holy Spirit will serve as your “two.” He is the third person of the Godhead and He intercedes for you.

When we are a partner with someone, both parties have specific responsibilities. Agreeing and working together is of utmost importance for success. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). If you’re part of a band, you have to play the same song as the other musicians. If your dance partner is doing the Twist while you’re Square Dancing, your team is absolutely not going to win the competition! The Word of God instructs us on how to live godly lives; we agree with God and then the Holy Spirit helps us stay on track. This is a sure-fire partnership any way you slice it.

However, should we mess up, we don’t give up! We can repent, ask for forgiveness, and start dancing with our Partner again. You’re never too old, too young, or too dumb to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. And don’t live in the past, stewing about what happened or didn’t happen. God’s a big-enough Partner to obliterate your baggage — but you have to be willing to hit the delete button. You can be restored to the authentic person God created you to be. Believers get a fresh new start every morning according to Lamentations 3:23. And that’s a splendid way to begin the new year.

The Key: You can happily promenade through life with the Holy Spirit as your Partner.

I mentioned in last week’s column that the list of local men and women who have made a heroic commitment of time, talent and treasure in Fort Scott could go on, and this week it will. This list, combined with the first, will certainly not be exhaustive, but here are some more recent investments by Bourbon County residents that have made us a better place to live and work:

State Farm Insurance/law firm. This significant investment at the intersection of South National and South Main dramatically improved a building that is highly visible by people traveling through Bourbon County on 69 Highway.

Bourbon County Cars. Another building at that same intersection was recently repurposed by local families, and has become a thriving business that creates significant tax revenue for Bourbon County.

Crooners/Liberty Theatre. An important Fort Scott historical district building was renovated and put to great use. Great restaurant and nice event venue.

Bartelsmeyer Jewelry. This family purchased a building on North Main near the National Historic Site and created a great place for locals and tourists to shop. Additionally, as was intended by these structures when built, they live above their store.

Edward Jones/Armstrong. This strip center on South National houses some popular tenants, and represents a significant financial risk to the local residents who took it on a few years ago.

Sunshine Boutique. This family business at Wall Street and Main Street has been popular for a long time, and they recently expanded their investment at that location, adding to their store, along with space for another tenant.

Smallville. This couple bought the lumber yard on 19^th Street and expanded the fitness options for locals, assuming a significant financial and construction risk. They put in much sweat equity (pun intended) as well.

What kind of investments in Bourbon County are good opportunities going forward? Besides pursuing your own business passion, rental housing represents a high need with relatively low risk. We have a dearth of good quality rental homes in Bourbon County, and demand is strong. Rent usually covers all monthly costs with a reasonable return on investment. We need local heroines and heroes to step up on housing; not as slumlords, but as men and women who understand that they have a responsibility to our community as well. Investors must turn a profit, but we have to think beyond ourselves as well if rural communities are to survive and thrive.

I am so glad I live and work in a community where so many people think beyond raw profit and want to make local investments that will create a legacy. Bourbon County REDI is committed to uncovering and supporting future local heroines and heroes.

So, like I vowed last week, I’m going to think only lovely thoughts, as Philippians 4:8 recommends. Easy peasy. I will make myself focus on how our hotel room is clean and no one has broken into our car. And how I now have a full day in which to write this article. And how our family bailed “us” out of a travel nightmare when, in reality, Dave and I could be adding 28 hours of travel time to our trip to Mexico. Much about which to be thankful. Indeed. I will refuse to dwell on how a friend in Mazatlán asked if we could pick up a car part in Oklahoma City on our way to Mexico. Only a few hours out of our way, we could spend the night there and continue to the border the next morning at 6:00. Oops! None of the three buildings to which we were sent held the “part” we needed. It was a few miles away in a warehouse, but, oh no, that building closed an hour ago. We would spend the night and pick up the part at 8:00 when the office opened. Lovely thoughts. Lovely thoughts. Lovely thoughts. Dave entered the warehouse at 8:00 sharp. He exited at 8:40, empty-handed. The part could not be found. It was in the inventory guide, but had disappeared. “Must have been sold and not recorded or it was misplaced. So sorry.” That’s how our day started. The next night, we stayed two hours from the Mexican border. Rising early, we wanted to get to the crossing before the crowd. Mind you, we have made this trip multiple times. Entering the immigration office, we knew the protocol. Dave was in charge of making sure we had all the documents required to cross. I grabbed the envelope from our glove compartment. The first stop was the passport check office. We weren’t felons. Good to know. Second stop? Perhaps we were felons. I handed the lady behind the glass all of our paperwork, a copy of our car title, drivers’ licenses, proof of Mexico insurance, passports, etc. “Where is the legal title to your car?” I pointed to the COPY of our title. I turned to Dave. “Honey, where is the actual title?” He exited the building while I begged. “We live in Kansas. That’s 14 hours from here and then 14 hours back.” Senora’s “sorry” seemed insincere. When I met up with Dave at the car, he was going through his “special” briefcase, the one that carries every important document, every end-of-the-world-life-saving-item imaginable. “Maybe I put it in here.” I sat in the driver’s seat, thinking NOT lovely thoughts. Fifteen minutes later, we were on our way back to Kansas. Dave broke the silence. “Well, we sure messed this up, didn’t we?” I gasped. “We? WE? WE? How did ‘WE’ get blamed for this?” “Well, think about it. You could have double-checked the envelope.” And this is where my unlovely thoughts probably went too far. “Yes, and I could smack you upside your head with your briefcase too, couldn’t I?” Dave found that funny. I owed him an apology. No Christian speaks to her husband like that, especially after, just the week before, she has vowed to follow Paul’s words in Phil. 4:8: “…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Then again, Paul wasn’t married. What would he know?

Keys to the Kingdom

When my daughter and son were young enough to play outside without hands-on supervision, yet not old enough to be entirely trusted, they played within the boundary of our fenced-in yard. As they grew older and proved themselves to be trustworthy, they were allowed to leave our property and play down by the creek bank just west of our house. Mariam and Aaron learned about nature and mastered the art of catching crawdads by placing a cup behind them as they shifted into reverse when threatened. I could always depend on the kids to return home whenever I blasted my athletic whistle. Because of their maturity and obedience, they were continuously rewarded (blessed) with the fun of expanded freedom.

Our heavenly Father is kindly watching our steps of obedience and disobedience. He watched the steps of the Israelites as they wondered all over the wilderness for 40 years. As a test, He gave them simple instructions on how to collect the miracle manna. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow My instructions‘” (Exodus 16:4 NLT). By their disobedient actions when collecting the manna, they proved they didn’t think God’s voice was important. They also proved that they weren’t trustworthy.

As believers, most of us are willing to do great things for God, but few are willing to do little things for Him. But God tests us in the little things first and if we flunk that simple test, we can’t be promoted to bigger things. “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 NLT).

Christ followers need to make the wise decision to start obeying God’s instructions in the little things. If we won’t obey the gentle voice of God and do little stuff, we can’t be promoted to bigger stuff because of our spiritual immaturity. We pray, “O Lord, what do You want me to do? I’ll do whatever You tell me to do,” thinking it will be something glorious in the limelight. Then when He gives us a small task and we ignore His voice because it’s not what we expected, or appears to be unimportant, we get to stay in spiritual kindergarten.

What are examples of little things? Picking up trash as you walk down the hall at work, not parking in the handicapped stall when you’re able-bodied, being kind to harried cashiers, reaching out to people the Lord has put on your heart, etc. Small acts of obedience are big in God’s eyes. “For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me” (Matthew 25:35,36 NLT). If you haven’t heard God tell you to do something specific lately, He’s probably still waiting for you to do the last thing He told you to do. God will give you greater responsibilities once you follow His previous instructions.

The Key: Stay within the boundary of God’s authority so you can hear and obey His voice and be blessed.