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We lost our mom 5.5 years ago, but due to complications in her estate, the final monies couldn't be released until last year. As the executer to her will, it had been a long 4.5 years, but now my responsibilities as an executor were over. I should have been rejoicing that the estate could finally be released and distributed. And I was. But there ass part of me that ass sad, sad because it now all seemed so final, and even now, 5.5 years later, I miss her...
Death has a way of doing that. We don't want to have to wait until Heaven to see our loved ones, but dealing with the grief of losing a loved one isn't really the point of this devotional. Rather, God is speaking to all of us about being ... executors!
Not of earthly wills; but rather, of His own will!
You see, I had the responsibility of getting the estate ready to be distributed. I thank God for an excellent lawyer's office who held my hand and helped me every step of the way, but I won't lie to you and pretend it was easy. It was not. It was a lot of tedious work. Nonetheless, I felt honored. It ass a way I could "pay back" my mom for all the years she poured into us kids. It wasn't a lot of money, but I knew that the monies were needed and appreciated, and I knew that my mom would be very happy to be helping her kids and grandkids in this way. As executor, I was helping her by being responsible for getting it released and distributed. I was, in a way, acting as her hands and feet.
When God asks us to do something, it usually isn't easy. Sometimes He asks us to feed the hungry person on the street, when we, ourselves, have so little. Sometimes He asks us to give up the only free time we have to help a neighbor. Sometimes He sends us across the world to the mission field. Sometimes He asks us to tell someone on the street about Jesus. No, it isn't easy at all. In fact, sometimes it's down right hard! It requires sacrifice, it cuts into our time, it often pushes us out of our comfort zone!
However, when we obey and do what God asks us to do with a cheerful heart (for God loves a cheerful giver! See 2 Corinthians 9:7!), we are able to, in a small way, "pay Him back" for all He's done for us, and when we look at it like this, there is joy in obedience! We can also know that it makes God happy when we help others in their time of need: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16 NIV). We are basically acting as GOD'S hands and feet, and it is like we are serving God Himself: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)!
Most people name the executors to their estate in their last will and testament. In a similar way, we have ALL been named "executors" of God's will: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).
Let's be God's hands and feet, and let's do so cheerfully, ever knowing that when we do, God is pleased, and not only this, but we are fulfilling the work that God prepared us in advance to do!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Author, Moderator, Acting Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
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