Tapestry (Part 2)

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Most of us think (read: assume) that we live lives of little consequence. We feel that what we do really don’t even make ripples in this world.

We rarely talk a person out of recklessly taking his own life; we rarely write a check that utterly transforms a life or ministry; we rarely save a drowning child or defuse a ticking time bomb. Instead we interact with people for moments at a time and attempt to say something—anything—that may be encouraging; we write small checks and place them in the offering basket; we have brief conversations with children, and we share just a shred of the Good News with that taxi driver. Most of our good deeds go unnoticed and unmarked by others. I suspect that even we ourselves fail to notice or remember the majority of the good deeds we do. But not God. God sees them all, knows them all, remembers them all, and uses them all. [1]

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However, only eternity would reveal the fruit of our labor and I believe we would actually be surprised. We would see that God did “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20a). 

Just as some day we will see the beautiful tapestry God has been weaving through our suffering, through the events we never would have chosen, in the same way we will see the tapestry this Master Weaver has been creating through those good deeds.

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We will see how a kind word resonated in a person’s heart even days and weeks later; we will see how that small amount of money was used to accomplish something amazing; we will see how that little shred of the gospel was the pebble in the shoe of the person who had hardened himself against God. Some day God will show us his tapestry, we will see how God has woven each of these little deeds together to his own glory, and we will rejoice. 

Some day we will see. Not now. But because we tend to want to be in control, we demand that we would see it today. Yet, life doesn’t work that way. And, since it’s like that, we get discouraged. We lose hope. We give up. That’s why we are exhorted,

With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message)

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So, focus on the moment. Interact with people. Say something encouraging. Do good deeds for God. Even if it would be unnoticed or unmarked, do it anyway. Even if we feel it seems to be a waste of time and effort, throw ourselves into His work.  “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) Our responsibility is to do good. Let God control the harvest. That’s His responsibility. There is a due season for us to reap. Our season now is to plant. That’s why we should not give up. Our labor would not be in vain.

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According to Galatians 6:10, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Note that we already “have [the] opportunity.” We should not wait for it. We should make the most of it. 

“Let go and let God” Step

Think of the opportunities you now have to do good. Which opportunity would you make the most as of the moment? There may be times that we feel weary or fatigued in doing good. What’s the root of that weariness? Is it because you want its fruit now? If so, confess to God your impatience and ask Him for strength for your labor. 

NOTE: This is Day Two of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 6) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message last Sunday, April 5, on “Pass It On.” 

[1] Tim Challies (2015, January 19), “God's Tapestry,” Challies.Com, retrieved from http://www.challies.com/. Emphasis added.

[2] Ibid. Emphasis added.