It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you… (1 Peter 1:12, NIV)
Some months ago, we were playing a course we often play when we came to an uphill par-3 much guarded by the rolling nature of its green. On this day, though, the cup had been cut in a place none of us had quite seen before, atop a spine. A putt from either side hit a bit hard would roll several feet past, but a putt hit too softly could return to one’s feet. It was a location ripe for four- and five-putts.
When we came in after the round, I mentioned the craziness of this particular hole location to the guys in the shop. They looked at each other, trying to guess who might have cut the cups that day. Then aha! It was a faithful enough employee but one who really does not know golf. Here was a man who knew his task but did not understand the full meaning behind the work.
Peter wrote to the early followers of Jesus that the prophets of the Old Testament were like this. They knew their task: to speak the words of God to his people. What they did not understand was the fullness of what they were saying.
That fullness, as it turned out, was the revelation of the Messiah who was to come and the sufferings and glories of his life and our salvation.
We might find two things fascinating in recognizing the work of the prophets.
First, like those to whom Peter was writing directly in his time, we are a truly blessed people, possessors as we are of both Testaments. We see Christ concealed and Christ revealed. We have every advantage when it comes to comprehending what God has done for us by his Son. We may not think of ourselves as “heroes of the faith” like those prophets, but we understand things they did not. We even have a better glimpse of what is still to come, because we know now who the Messiah is and why he is exalted.
Second, like those prophets of old, we may be called to work we do not fully understand. But because of their example, we can be encouraged to faithful completion of the work we are given. God may have you in such a place right now—working in a setting or alongside a person—where you step back each day, shaking your head and asking God, “Why am I here?” And perhaps the only answer he has given you is, “I have brought you here, and that is all you need to know. Trust me and honor me with your good work.”
So praise God and pray to him. He has given us much and he has given us little. That is, he has given to us just what he has for us, plentiful and sufficient. Still, it may not be all he has for us, which keeps us asking for more—more understanding and more faithfulness, trusting always that he will give us just what we need right when we need it.
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Jeff Hopper
July 31, 2014
Copyright 2014 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.