Day 37 - Luke 11:37-54 - Go Beyond Appearances
The pharisees were guilty of keeping up appearances instead of serving from the heart. They liked to pray loudly, wear large phylacteries (boxes with scripture inside worn on the arm or forehead), sit in the place of honor at gatherings, and anything else that would make them look important and righteous. However, they completely missed the point that our service is not to be seen of men but to be done to the glory of God. They enforced the tiniest detail of the law but forgot the most important commandments - "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind...You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37&29 NASV).
The people who have had the greatest impact on my life were those who served quietly in the background and from a heart filled with the Spirit. My parents were like this. Daddy served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He also headed up the building and grounds committee of our church when I was in junior high. In his case this meant doing much of the work himself and allowing me to serve alongside him. Mother was the head of the hostess committee, and I was allowed to help her set up the fellowship hall for Wednesday dinners, special gatherings, and wedding receptions. My parents were an excellent example of people who served the Lord with gladness, not to be seen by others, but to please the audience of One. I'm blessed to have such good examples.
My friend, George, from my former church was the person who turned on the heat or air and opened all the doors for Sunday services. He was a quiet man; but when he prayed, you felt the Spirit moving. When he retired from teaching, he became a janitor at the church.
My friend, Susan, often worked behind the scenes during the dinner theaters we performed each summer as an outreach ministry. Her cooking, serving, and cleaning were just as crucial to that ministery as my singing and attempting to dance; but hardly anyone knew she was there. She and my friend, Jennifer, used to carry my keyboard, guitar, and bag of music when we would minister in song at other churches. I was the lead singer and spokesperson, but their physical help and prayer support was what made reaching people possible.
The Lord has blessed me with many friends like this. I would do well to become more like them. Therefore, I'm going to post the lyrics to a song I wrote about them and in honor of all who serve unseen. Matthew 6:6.
FATHER SEES
You’re not the kind of person to stand in front of a crowd.
You may never preach a sermon, and you barely sing out loud.
Your service for the Lord is often behind the scenes;
and though you’re always hard at work,
people seldom see those things.
But Father sees...and Father knows...
Though your work seems unrewarded,
your heavenly treasure grows.
And someday soon the Lord you’ll meet,
and you’ll have the joy of laying crowns
at our precious Savior’s feet.
Father sees.
You always make the coffee after opening the doors,
and joyfully you carry out so many mundane chores.
The most important work you do is seldom ever seen...
when you do battle for us in prayer upon your knees.
(chorus)
You help prepare the dinner while on the stage I sing.
While I enjoy the crowd’s applause, you clean up everything.
But the thing that others never see
happening several times a week
is the way that you encourage me as the will of God I seek.
But Father sees...and Father knows...
Though your work seems unrewarded,
your heavenly treasure grows.
And someday soon the Lord you’ll meet,
and you’ll have the joy of laying crowns
at our precious Savior’s feet.
Father sees.
I remember as a little girl I’d stand upon your feet,
and then we’d walk together.
Oh, Dad, those times were sweet.
As a teen I helped you as you kept the churchyard clean.
Lovely grounds and building evidence
of a work that seemed unseen.
But Father sees...and Father knows...
Though your work seems unrewarded,
your heavenly treasure grows.
And someday soon the Lord you’ll meet,
and you’ll have the joy of laying crowns
at our precious Savior’s feet.
Father sees.
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