Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Catching Lightning Bugs

I fondly remember the fun I had as a young girl after the summer sunsets. With my older brother or a childhood friend, I would run barefoot all over the yard catching lightning bugs. As they blinked their pretty golden tail lights, I’d carefully place them into the fruit jar. Dad would, of course, punch holes in the lid so they could breathe. I wouldn’t trade my simple, country, growing-up years for a ranch in Texas!

I don’t know if God created lightning bugs just so kids could have summer fun or not. But I’m sure glad He did. I recently saw a coffee mug with the following imprinted on it: “If God can make a bug’s butt light up, just think what He can do for you.” I thought this was hilarious, plus it was a pretty good theology too!

Sometimes Christ followers settle for dry crumbs out of the toaster instead of a loaf of  hot bread out of the oven. Apostle Paul’s prayer for spiritual growth in believers is a vital tool in order for us to believe and receive. We, too, can say this prayer: “I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong” (Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT). God is not limited in what He can do, but we sometimes limit Him with our little faith.

Paul continues his prayer: “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God” (Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT). The fullness of life and power that believers desire and require is not found in self-help books or autobiographies of famous dead people. The abundant life only comes from God through Christ Jesus.

This is a life-changing prayer — and Paul isn’t finished yet: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think (Ephesians 3:20 NLT). Amazingly, God’s power is working in His followers to accomplish above and beyond anything we can even imagine. God has unlimited resources, but we need to pray and tap into all that’s available to us as His children. God can do everything Himself, but He chooses to work through His followers. We need big faith that’s rooted in God’s love if we want to “let our little light shine” in real time.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught: “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16 ERV). A little later, He then rhetorically asked the crowd, “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin…will He [God] not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28,30 NKJV). We ought to thank God every day that He has given believers unlimited resources to help us live victoriously.

The Key: Consider the lightning bug and just think what God can do for you!

A foolproof way to find out if you are a true, authentic friend is if you are thrilled when others have success.  No matter what happens to you.  No matter if they got the promotion you wanted, they got the book deal you prayed for, they were healed and you were not, they have perfect kids and yours spend more time in detention than in the classroom. No matter what!

This, of course, works both ways.  You will know if your friends are authentic if they celebrate your accomplishments when they themselves are struggling.  I have some friends who meet that description, but I wonder if I don’t have “a little” work to do in this area.

In Genesis 4, we read that Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel.  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.  And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 

Many of my Christian author friends admit they struggle with envy when they cannot manage to carve out time to write their second or third book, yet their fellow authors post about their 40^th book going to print or how a respected publishing company has offered them a huge endorsement. We (yes, I fall into that category) understand Cain’s frustration.

Frustrations over God’s generosity towards others aren’t a new concept. In fact, the idea that we are entitled to God’s blessings coupled with our irritation over God’s generosity to others is at the heart of the first recorded murder in Scripture. Big brother Cain is one unhappy camper when little bro Abel got the “atta boy” from God and he didn’t.

God does not comfort Cain.  He lets him know that if he does what’s right, he also will experience God’s favor.  Cain has a choice.  He can accept God’s sovereignty—even though he might not agree with it—or he can allow his jealousy and pride to rob him of what little peace he has.  We all know which he chose, ultimately ending with him murdering Abel.

Granted, no one I know—including me—has ever murdered because another author’s book received more accolades.  God does not suffer from limited generosity.  He blesses as He sees fit, meaning He blesses me in different ways than He does my friends.  Who am I to think that I deserve a blessing He has not given me?  God is limitless in His ability to love, show grace and mercy, and bless.  I should do likewise.

So, if you find yourself disappointed when others are the benefactors of something that you had hoped for, maybe even prayed for, God understands your feelings.  Nevertheless, like Cain, we have a choice to trust in God’s decisions to bless others (and be happy for them), or we can allow sin to take root and be consumed with a bitter heart.

I know which kind of friend I want to be.