Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

Ps 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.”

Today I mourn the passing of a great man of God, Zig Ziglar. He was the patriarch of the self development and positive attitude movements. Zig, who had spoken so many times heart to heart with Jesus got to see Him face to face on November 28th

If you ever heard Zig by tape, CD, YouTube or MP3, you know that he had a distinctive voice and style. It took getting use to but was comforting after a while.

.As I reflect on Zig’s life I think of three key concepts- Faith…family…future.

He had deep faith that controlled all he was and did. He taught Sunday School for years in the Dallas area. He sowed seeds of the Word of God in hearts of generations for many years.

Family was foundational for him as well. Just two days before he died he and his wife celebrated their 66^th wedding anniversary! He wrote a book about the death of one his children called “Confession of a Grieving Christian.” He had balance. Zig did not see everything as sunshine but understood one best saw the light against a dark background. He trusted God’s heart when he could not see His hand.

Finally, Zig was committed to the future. He encouraged people to plan their future. He told people set their visions and dreams and put them on paper. Perhaps worse than living an unexamined life is to live one unplanned. Our motto should be if the Lord is willing we will do this and that, and at least have a plan and path to pursue.

If God wants to change you , He certainly can

Just ask the Apostle Paul who used to be called Saul.

You Are God’s Art

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. Ep 2:10

We are created individually within the plans and purpose of God. That is one reason life is sacred. Plus we were created in His image. There is a difference in our lives as works of art and those you see in a museum. Life in God is not just something to be looked at but to be lived.

God does not just want to display you for the world to see and for them to go “Ooh and Ah!” He wants you to do that which He designed for us.

This verse clearly states that God has good works He has planned in advance for us to do. One of the challenges in life is discovering His plans for us.

Let me suggest that with His plan is His pattern. The pattern is not doctrine, Bible principles or Bible stories. The pattern is a person…Jesus Christ. Jesus is the pattern for how we are to live and love. He demonstrated what God intended for man to be before the Fall. We are to be one who Loves God. God communes with us and speaks to us so we hear Him. We should repeat what we hear Him say. We should do what we see Him doing. The Christian life has only been successfully lived by one …Jesus Christ. It is not possible in our own resources.

That brings us from plans to pattern and finally to power. God never asks us to do or be anything He has not equipped us to be. It is the Holy Spirit who is the power in us to fulfill the plans and duplicate the pattern of Christ in our hearts and lives. He is our power

Four key words…purpose…plans…pattern…power.