Plodders
The word “walk” in Scripture often refers to one’s lifestyle. How is your walk? Perhaps you may consider the unpleasant and seemingly unproductive parts in a different light upon reading this.
Would you consider being called a plodder a compliment? Measure yourself by this definition before answering that. Various dictionaries describe a plodder differently, such as, “to walk slowly, to trudge,” and “to work patiently with effort.” A homespun definition might be simply, “to get there.” Now answer the question.
The British missionary William Carey, an extra-biblical plodder, had as his motto: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”
He did and he did.
From his humble role as a shoe maker he emerged as a scholar, linguist, and effective missionary. In his twilight years he wrote, “If after my removal, anyone should think it worthwhile to write of my life, I will give you a criterion by which you may judge of its correctness. If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything beyond this will be too much.” He concluded, “I can plod… To this I owe everything.” He got it, he got there.
Against that example of consistency, judge yourself. To those who might be contemplating giving up – don’t. Find the joy in plodding and plod on.
“Plodder” is a euphemism for one who perseveres. It is often in the absence of great skill, emboldens them and enables them to achieve. They are driven by an inflamed desire to break down barriers, overcome obstacles, and do the impossibility. They see the end of their vision and count the cost and discouragement to press on, and in spite of all obstacles press on.
Now consider your role. You might feel you don’t count, that your role in life is small and your task meaningless. Let’s face it, we are not to judge people as big or little, but faithful or unfaithful. I have never met a person I did not consider my equal. You count. On God’s scale we all weigh the same. By being loyal to Him you can find your self-worth. There is dignity in being you.
Robert Louis Stevenson observed worthwhile people don’t just happen, they aren’t just born. They are born with the ability to become worthwhile. It is your job to discover and develop the man or woman you ought to be.”
Plodders are people who have found their better self, their personal el dorado and are mining it to the fullest. They are becoming all they were created with the ability to be.
Remember, as Moses instructed Israel, so, “You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you…” (Deuteronomy 5:33)
Fear Is Often a Fake
In the earlier years of development citizens of the then small town of Marietta were alerted to the likelihood of an attack by a band of hostile Indians. With the approach of dark the citizens gathered in the sturdy town hall, feeling it would be a safe haven. Harbingers of fear brought distressing news. During the long night every noise frightened the fearful defenders. The hours passed slowly and fear grew even stronger as dawn was soon to end the sleepless night. At the crack of day scouts were sent out to assess the situation. They found there had not been nor was there an Indian within half a mile. Fear had needlessly held the people captive.
That is an illustrative graphic of what inordinate fear does to us. It holds our emotions captive.
As the citizens sought a refuge so we all need one and find it in the Lord.
“I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, and in Him I will put my trust.” (Psalm 91: 2)
Growing up our daughters were inquisitive. When we would speak of some person of note they would not ask if I knew them, but “Does he know you?” It was as though I took on importance by the person knowing me. I am renewed daily by knowing God. I am twice blessed by Him knowing me. We take on a new vitality by virtue of being known by Him. It is not merely that He knows about us, like we know about the ocean. Rather, He is acquainted with us. He who knows our down sittings and our uprising said, “Fear not.”
As a child at a stage it frightened me when told, “God sees you,” as a threat. Then I grew to know that was not only good, it was wonderful. That means He knows when I was in need of help. I grew to know…
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust…” (Psalm 18: 2)
He is a caring and involved God. He knows our person, problems, perplexities, pressures, and predicaments. Knowing all of this, the God of all grace says, “Fear not.”
The Lord does not immune us from problems or exempt us from sorrow. He does promise to be with us amid them.
The only one-of-a-kind Son, Jesus, gave us an illustration on His wisdom in imparting His gifts: “…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (Matthew 7: 9, 10) If an earthly father is so loving and caring how much more is our Heavenly Father? That should motivate us to trust and fear not. We can say, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62: 6 – 8)
State Your Case
Do you ever feel like you have nothing for which to be thankful? Don’t dwell there. However, if you do, reflect on some previous times and ways God has blessed you. Most didn’t thank Him adequately the original time. Put modesty aside and admit He has blessed you. There is strength in a thankful heart.
If you have such feelings there is a possibility you also feel a need in your life. If so, use the antidote prescribed by Isaiah, “Produce your case, bring forth your strong reason….” (Isaiah 41: 21) Analytically, do it.
This is an appeal to use logic and reason. Clear your mind of fantasy. That is what Scripture means when it says, “…pulling down strongholds….” In a previous verse we are encouraged to “…cast down imaginations….” (II Corinthians 10: 4,5)
Don’t fantasize. The undisciplined mind can run away. “In nothing (be) terrified by our adversary.” (Philippians 1: 28) The word “terrified” translates the word used to describe a horse spooked in battle. That is a graphic description of what happens in one’s mind. Don’t panic and have your mind run away with fantasized thoughts.
To state your case means to face reality, good and bad, not just the bad. Your case can never be settled as long as you are playing mental games. Therefore, do all within your ability to line up reality and give it a thorough inspection. That is step one in recovery. Don’t be pretentious. Things might be very bad, but they are never as bad as you might imagine.
Old Testament character Joshua came to a time of need. The encouragement given him is appropriate for you: “Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 9) The theme emerges elsewhere “in the presence of the Lord there is strength.” He is with you. Acknowledge it and act accordingly.
As a deep sea diver is dependent on his diving gear, we are dependent on the Lord. As he must trust the gear so we must trust the Lord. Without it he is helpless in an alien environment. Without the Lord we are helpless. Don’t act like you don’t have Him, act because you do have Him.
A constantly sad saint is a sad sort of a saint. Be of good cheer. An awareness of the presence of the Lord with you gives you the capacity to say yes or no… and whoopee.
The acclaimed novelist Dostoveski noted, “The ant knows the formula for the anthill. The bee knows the formula for the beehive. They do not know the formula in a human way, but in their own way. Only man does not know the formula.”
Our formula is, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me…” (Psalm 23: 4)
The Race Is On
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12: 1, 2
This text is sometimes represented as there being a giant stadium filled with believers who have gone before us observing (witnesses of) us and cheering for us to be faithful. In reality it represents a stadium filled with believers testifying (witnesses) of the faithfulness of the Lord. With their testimony to encourage us, the metaphor of a race illustrates some important life principles, such as:
A fascinating statistics show that 100% of those who win a race… start it. To win, you have to begin. If you want to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord, you have to start. A resolute determination is the motivation needed. If not now, when?
One of the first experiences a runner has is a desire to quit. The first part is the hardest. Pushing through that zone is called getting a second wind.
The initial time in the start of your spiritual pilgrimage might well be the first part. Satan throws all he can against you. Expect it.
Qualities that are helpful in spiritual growth are identified in II Peter 1:5 – 9. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” Note a key factor is “perseverance,” that is, in a non-word word stick-to-it-tiveness, or hang in there.
Life being more like a marathon than a sprint, it is necessary to have checkpoints by which to measure your pace.
In high school our 4-by-4 track team lost a member at the last minute due to an injury. Pete, who was a sprinter, was called on to fill in. Other members of the team gathered around Pete to give him a crash course in how to run the race cautioning him not to start off too fast, but to pace himself and reserve enough to finish strong. Instead Pete took off like the sprinter he was leaving everyone in his wake. Within about 100 yards to go Pete burned out and slowed to finish last.
Establish a challenging, but reasonable growth routine and maintain it.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.”
Courage Not Conformity
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalm 31: 24.
That is a text worth bronzing and putting on one’s mantel. Take it to the bank, your mental bank, and deposit. It will pay dividends.
Courage is a Christian virtue. In fact, it is impossible to follow and please Christ without it. He has charged His followers, “Be of good courage…” Our English word “courage” comes from the Latin root “cor,” meaning the condition of the heart. King Richard I, by name Richard the Lionhearted, or in French Richard Coeur de Lion, meaning, the king with the heart of a lion.
In the text the Hebrew for courage “tharreo” literally means to be bold. Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under our troubles, we should turn our thoughts to the goodness of the Lord towards those who fear and trust in Him. Thus, the Lord strengthens our heart enabling us to be of good cheer.
Hope ignites such courage. Our English word “hope” came into being by combining two old Anglo Saxon word meanings: desire plus expectation. If you desire for the Lord to strengthen your heart, and expect Him to do so, He will.
Hope in the Lord cheers, sustains, comforts; makes life happier. It even makes death more calm, serene, and triumphant.
“…the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy.” (Psalm 33: 18)
Personal courage is enshrined as one of the seven core Army values in the modern U.S. Army. The Army defines it simply as “facing fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral).” Courage is no less a Christian virtue. In fact, it is impossible to follow and please Jesus without it.
Through the ages it has been the mantra of legions of our Lord’s loyalists.
One of the church’s first recorded martyrs was a frail slave girl named Blandina. Because she was not a Roman citizen, she was not allowed to be beheaded but was instead subject to torture if she did not renounce her faith in Jesus. The Roman soldiers exhausted themselves trying to get her to deny Jesus. She was made to watch the torture of her fellow Christians and ultimately put in a net and tossed around like a toy by an enraged bull before a cheering crowd. Yet, she did not deny her Lord.
Courage under such extreme circumstances won many gladiators to faith in Jesus. As new converts some of them later faced death in the arena.
Part of being strong and of good courage means trusting in the Lord as our true source of strength.
Believers in Jesus belong to a kingdom not of this world. Our King has not called us to conformity with the world, but to be conquerors of it.
Courage not conformity with the world is our charge in our daily lives.