A good friend of mine, (former all pro NFL great Bill Glass), sent me a devotional the other day. It was so good I wanted to send it to you exactly as he sent it to me, (without editing). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And if you ever have a desire to become involved in Bill’s excellent prison ministry as I did, please contact him and see how you too can become involved in this premiere organization: the Bill Glass Champions for Life Ministry @ WWW.http://billglass.org/
“There was a movie that came out in 2007 starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It was a comedy and certainly not intended to be a pattern for a happy life; however, I’m also sure that some of the things that were tried were exciting, fun and challenging. The movie was titled The Bucket List, and on their lists were the things they wanted to do before they “kicked the bucket”.
There are some things that would be fun to do before dying. Obviously, many of them were tried by Solomon, and his conclusion was that they didn’t really satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. They only had temporary satisfaction. They gave only a thrill for the moment. Their thrill was only brief and did not bring real joy.
Christ tells us the real joy comes from ministering to the least.
Mother Teresa went to a monastery to seek God. But she found real joy in serving “the least” in the slums of Calcutta.
I’ve searched for fulfillment in sports, and I certainly wouldn’t say it wasn’t fun or even satisfying to win a World Championship or play in the Pro Bowls. But I’ve also found even more genuine joy and fulfillment in serving in prisons on “death row” with criminals.
Christ interrupted His redemptive act of crucifixion long enough to save a thief who died next to Him. The thief begged, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom”. I hope I would have heard his cry for help as Christ did. What if Christ had ignored him or even explained, “I came to this horrible planet to save the world by dying on this cursed cross. I can’t be interrupted in my most important mission. Don’t bother me now as I am saving sinners and some of them may even be worse sinners than you”.
There is a secret that few understand. Happiness is seldom found in frontal attack by seeking it. It is the by-product of a fruitful life. Maybe winning a championship wasn’t as important as winning a teammate to Christ or even a thief in prison.
Your “bucket list” should include:
1. “The least” (the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick or in prison–Matt. 25:35-36),
2. Forgiving anyone you have anything against, and
3. Making sure you are going to heaven when you die. Copy the thief on the cross. Yell out to Jesus, “Remember me”. That’s on the top of the bucket list.
Climb a mountain, jump out of an airplane or play in a Super Bowl. Solomon shortened the bucket list for us in Ecclesiastes. Wine, women and song do not bring lasting satisfaction. He even tried building monuments to his name. It was Solomon’s Temple, Solomon’s palace, Solomon’s Capital buildings. His name was on everything. He concluded all of it was vanity, pride, and ego, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. He concluded that only God produces joy! Solomon says we should “fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” (Eccl. 12:8, 13)
“Encouragement so plain, you can’t miss it!” – Bill Glass
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!
Habakkuk 2:2
“…Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”