Courage to do God's will

Well, Good Day. . .

It took extreme courage on Paul's part to do what he believed was God's will for him. Perhaps all of the groundwork I have laid about surrender, trust, and wanting to know God's will for your life. . . all sounds good. . . intellectually. The problem comes in the doing, and sometimes in the 'not doing'. . . but the waiting for God's direction--waiting for God to come and rescue you. Perhaps this inspirational story will paint a picture in your mind, and give you the courage you need to stay at it.

Paderewski, the famous composer-pianist, was scheduled to perform at a great concert hall i America. It was an evening to remember--a black-tux-long-evening dress, high-society extravaganza. In the audience that evening sat a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting for the concert to begin, the lad squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother hoped her boy would be encouraged to practice the piano once he heard the immortal Paderewski. That is why, against his wishes, he was there.

When his mother turned to talk with some friends, the impatient boy could stay seated no longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway and its leather-tufted stool on the huge stage flooded with brilliant lights. Largely ignored by the sophisticated audience, the boy sat down at the stool, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play "Chopsticks." The roar of the crowd quickly ceased as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout at the bold youngster.

Backstage the master, overhearing the sounds, hurriedly grabbed his coat and rushed toward the stage, where he stood behind the boy and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance "Chopsticks." As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy's ears, "Keep going. Do not quit, son. Keep on playing. Do not stop. Do not quit." What a gracious genius!

We have been called to play a spiritual tune for Christ. Though we have generally wanted to do our best, we have occasionally said the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time. Perhaps we have not lived up to our own expectations, not to mention His standards of service. Perhaps our best service is sometimes more like "Chopsticks" than Swan Lake. Maybe some in the galleries are trying to yell us off the stage. We know we have a heavenly calling and we want to keep playing for God, but we desperately need encouragement.

At such times Christ stands beside us, his presence vivid and sustaining. He tells us, "Have courage, my dear servant. I have more work for you to do. Keep playing. . . keep going. . . do not stop. . . do not quit." He adds his amazing and superior countermelody to ours, making the result something that honor him and is beautiful. (from R. Kent Hughes)

Stay at the piano. . . stay at your post. . . you are not alone.
Press on.
Paul expressed his own 'keepin' on' this way: "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3.12-14 A couple verses later then, Paul reminds the Philippians, (which we must keep our eye on daily), "our citizenship is in heaven." While this world is all we know, it is not our home. . . our home is with the Lord in Heaven. . . where we will be with Him forever.

In the mean time, press on. . .
Christine