Days

A friend sent this to me today and I really like it:

Imagine that you are standing before the Lord Jesus. He has a huge table behind Him with a large box for each Christian. You walk up to Him and ask Him to reveal to you His will for the day. "What is it Lord that you have for me for this day?" The Lord turns and reaches down into a large box with your name on it. He takes out a small box, which has today's date written on it. We strain to look over His shoulder to see what is still in the large box. He smiles and says that what is in the large box are my tomorrows and I am not allowed to see them. He has my tomorrows all designed and worked out and knows exactly what is best for me, but He has asked me to walk one day at a time and not to worry or figure out what tomorrow may have. I must have faith about what I cannot see.

Even though I want to know the future, I decide again to trust Him as He asks me to. I reach out my hands to take my box. He interrupts me and asks me to lay down my own box first. But, I replied, these are the things that I want to do. These are my plans and my intents for the day. He said to me (Matt 11:28-30), "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." It was clear to me that I had to lay down my burden (box) in order to take what He was offering to me. He does not allow us to have both boxes! Either I serve myself or I serve my Lord.

Slowly I placed my box with my dreams and wishes for the day down before Him. I looked up at His smile and took the box He had for me. I opened it and some of the very things I had wished for were there. Some were not, but the missing ones seemed so much less important. Truly, His burden is light. I could see how much more care and thought had gone into His choices than what was in the box I had designed. Mine were self-centered; His had eternal perspectives and His glory! I thanked Him and turned to leave, and He motioned for me not to leave. He turned and picked up something else. It was not pleasant looking at all. He handed it to me.

He said, (Luke 9:23) "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me." He handed me a cross. Remember, He said, it is a cross that you take up daily. He could see the confusion in my eyes. I wondered why there is a cross. Why suffering? Why trials?

His eyes met mine again and He said that in this life I would have trials. His gaze into my eyes soon gave me strength to hear His words. These trials keep you close to Me. You will keep coming back to Me when things are tough and difficult. I will not allow any trial or struggle to be so difficult that you in My strength cannot overcome. Trust me when the trials come.

Then it was clear. I could see Him smiling as the understanding of His love sank into my soul. Yes, Lord, you are right. When my days are full of prosperity and richness, I seldom find myself coming to you, but when the days are tough, you know I come looking for You. Lord, thank you for the cross. It keeps us close. He likes that. So do I.

He said to me that just as the daily portion (His box) was carefully and divinely designed, so is the cross. He knows exactly what cross you should carry and that is the one that He allows for you to have. Do not look at that cross that you have been given as more than you can handle or more than you deserve. Look at that cross as something that has been designed specifically for you to keep you close to your loving Lord.

So I tucked the box of instructions for the day under my arm, and I picked up my cross to carry and turned to leave. Jesus called to me, "Wait for Me." I looked puzzled at Him. He said to me that the Christian walk is not just following my instructions and carrying a cross. It is walking with Him. It is the two of us spending the day together, and throughout the day talking and listening and sharing. What a dismal life it would be to just be obedient and dutiful and sacrificial if there was no walk with the Lord, our King.

Jesus caught up with me and walked close to my side. He said to me, "I am the good Shepherd. Abide with me today."