Wednesday prayer & verses (07 04 2010)

Thought for the day

I don't know how many of you have watched the TV show "Undercover Boss", but it is one that intrigues me. The show features a CEO of any given company who decides to go undercover and work as one of his men on the front lines. The purpose is to find out what problems there are and what the CEO can do to make it better. Now to some extent, this show seems a bit staged to me as the workers are almost always more than thrilled to be working for the company and they have unique, difficult situations that they open up about to this "stranger" filming a documentary, whether it be about dialysis or losing their home to a flood. But that aside, it is interesting to watch the reactions of people at the end of the show when they learn that the man that they serve, that they've never met, has spent the day working beside them. And everything they did and said was being observed by the man who pays their salary.

More often than not, the CEO is touched by how hard his employees work and they are rewarded. Some are rewarded with bigger job opportunities within the company. Some are given raises, some sent to school, some have foundations set up in their name. It reminds me so much of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25. The show for me, makes that passage come alive. I think a lot about God revealing himself to us at the end of our time and saying, "I was with you. I was watching you work and heard what you said. I was impressed with your work ethic. You work very hard. I know it hasn't been easy, but I'm going to make things better for you now. You do an excellent job where you are at, but I would like you to take on more responsibility."

This show is helpful in getting me to understand that passage. I'm afraid too often that I relate far too easily with the steward with one talent. I hope that God finds me neither afraid or lazy, but can warmly greet me in his "office" and say "Well done good and faithful servant!"

Verses

1 John 5:4

Anything which comes from God is able to overcome the world: and the power by which we have overcome the world is our faith.

Mark 16:17-18

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

2 Peter 1:4

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

1 Peter 3:12

For the Lord's eyes are turned towards the righteous, his ears are open to their prayers; but the Lord's face is set against wrong-doers.'

Romans 10:12

There is no ethnic distinction here, all are treated alike. The Divine Judge rules without favoritism and is willing to be generous to anyone.

Prayer

Father, because Jesus was resurrected to life again we have the courage to work through the seemingly insurmountable difficulties that would otherwise plummet our faith. We walk in the power of our resurrected Savior that makes life worth the living in our present life and increases our hope and expectancy of imperishable life yet to come. Amen.