One day on the other side of eternity, what do you want to hear from the Lord Jesus?
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SHAUNA: Welcome to Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope.Today Joni has a great story that I know will hit home.
JONI: You know, I always think it’s so odd, so amazing the way God will encourage us, sometimes in the most strange and unique ways. Like for instance: About a month or so ago, my husband Ken took me to have my eyes examined. Since I had to remain in my wheelchair, the technician [his name was Raymond] – Raymond helped position me in front of every machine. You know the ones I’m talking about, where you look into this big thing with eyeholes, then they switch one lens after another to determine which one works best with your eyesight? Then there’s another machine that you have to get real close up to. That’s the one that emits a puff of air against your cornea. Then there’s that other machine where you rest your chin and they shine different lights into your eyes? Well, Raymond had to direct me as I powered my wheelchair this way and that, inching forward, bending down, getting into the exact right position to accommodate the height of each machine. I would hold my breath, Raymond would quickly take the measurement, and then he would say in a half whisper, “Good job!” After the second test, again, he commended me, “Good job!” And finally, my husband, on the third machine, echoed him too, saying, “Good job!”
Now, you’re going to think this is funny, but those two little words were so encouraging. Because earlier in the day I had a hard time dealing with a lot of pain in my wheelchair, and well, it just – it just felt good to do something and hear somebody say, “Good job!” It really brightened my heart. And what was so odd was, those words were so minor, so, so incidental, so off-the-cuff. Raymond [I don’t even know that he’s a believer] – Raymond had no idea how he encouraged me that afternoon. But he did encourage me. And I think God was the one who prompted him.
Proverbs 25:11 says, “Words aptly spoken are like apples of gold in settings of silver.” That little encounter with Raymond, the eye technician, reinforced a lesson that I know well. And that is, every word of encouragement counts. Every encouraging word means something. Look, I have lived this wonderful truth all my life. Every uplifting note I write, every letter I send or phone call I give to someone who hurts and is struggling; every message shared from platforms great and small; every time I name the name of Jesus or give His love, all of it counts. Hebrews 4:13 tells us that nothing is hidden from God’s sight. “Everything is uncovered and lay bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Whoa! That’s a weighty responsibility for a Christian, but don’t let it alarm you. It’s also very good news. It means that God is taking note of every little incidental encouragement you offer up, every seemingly insignificant good deed you do, every apple of gold you give through your words, even something as simple as saying “good job” to commend another’s effort.
SHAUNA: You know, there’s more to be said about these precious apples of gold, and it’s all laid out for us in the book of Proverbs. So why not take some time to read through Proverbs and grab hold of some biblical wisdom for today? Better yet, read a different Proverb each day of the month and expect God to encourage you. And finally, right now, please be encouraged yourself; your good words and your actions count in God’s eyes. So, this week, let everything you say and do encourage someone else, and make God look good in their eyes. Because one day on the other side of eternity, you really do want to hear the Lord Jesus say, “good job!”
© Joni and Friends