Journey of a Disciple #5

Life is a series of losses and gains. On our journey through life here on earth, we will each know the pain of loss, whether through the loss of a loved one, or the loss of a job, or losing our health, or financial losses. We can only hope and pray that God will see us through these losses, and the gains we experience will outweigh our losses. As a disciple of the Lord Jesus, I have learned to give thanks for all of life’s experiences, for every gain or loss is a teaching opportunity, and if we will take the hand of the Master and move forward in faith, he will not only see us through, but he will also guide us safe home. With his help we can turn our scars into stars, our losses into gains, and our defeats into victories. With God, all things are possible. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”—Philippians 4:11-13.

In Mark 9:23, Jesus tells us that “All things are possible to those who believe.” In my patriarchal blessing I am admonished to “Trust the Lord and move forward in faith.” That has been my guide throughout my life. I’ve had my ups and my downs. I’ve been to the mountaintop, and I have gone through the “dark night of the soul.” Through it all, the Lord has never left me alone. He has promised us in the Bible that “I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.”—Matthew 28:20. I know that to be true, and I live my life as a disciple with that always in mind. I am never alone. He is always there with me, wherever I go and whatever I do. He has never failed me and he never will, for he is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is my strength and my song, my redeemer and friend, and I will love him and follow him forevermore.

One of the things I studied in Sunday school class when I was 12 is found in the New Testament book of Colossians, chapter three, verse 23: “Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people.” It was written by Paul, a disciple for Jesus. Paul knew about hard work, for he was a tentmaker by trade. He worked at his trade in addition to his ministry, not desiring to be a financial burden to the young churches he founded. In Thessalonians, Paul states that he and his companions

"…worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you."

(2 Thessalonians 3:8)

Paul's purpose in working was to set an example for the Christians, desiring that they not become idle in their expectation of the return of Christ, but that they would work to support themselves. He also hoped that his refusal to accept financial support would build his credibility among non-Christians, thus giving him the chance to win over more of them.

I took the Scripture from Colossians to heart. At the age of 12 I began my sales career by going door to door all over the town of Marshall. At that time, Marshall had a population of around 10,000 people, so there was a large field of opportunity. I didn’t want to do just any job, though. I wanted to do the kind of work that would bring honor and glory to my Lord and Savior, for my discipleship was very important to me, and I wanted to be a good and faithful disciple for Christ. In a magazine, I found an ad for door to door salesmen selling small metal cans of White Cloverine Brand Salve, a healing product like Vaseline for cuts and abrasions, only it had the more solid consistency similar to Kiwi shoe wax that comes in a small tin can, plus a fragrance to make it appealing to the women who were the primary buyers. The upside for me was this:? with every purchase of three cans of salve, which sold for 25 cents, I could give the customer a beautiful 10" X 12" full color picture of Christ, or a Christian scene from the Bible stories.

That fact was important for me since I wanted to help other people become faithful disciples of Christ, just as I aspired to be. So I ordered a sales kit, and as soon as it arrived I began going door to door selling cans of salve and giving away the beautiful Christian pictures sent to me. I liked selling the salve, because I was helping to bring healing to people, just as Jesus went about healing the sick. In my mind I knew that I was doing the work of Jesus and that He would be pleased, for I had also learned from Sunday school classes that “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it to me.”—Matthew 25:40. I was successful at sales, as I have been all my life, because of the grace of God, and I give him all the credit. I have learned in my 74 years that it is the Lord who gives us all of our gifts and abilities. We may do the work, but it is the Lord who deserves the credit. I could do nothing worthwhile and good if it were not for his generosity and grace. I believe that with all my heart. That’s why I choose to give God the credit and the glory for all my accomplishments. It’s become a way of life for me.*

*from my book, Journey of a Disciple, available at www.amazon.com

Gene Allen Groner, author and biographer

[email protected]