I’ve been thinking about my Mom this past week.
“Let her own works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:31b KJV)
Our mothers taught us that whatever we DO—what we create and accomplish and give away—should be of such quality and skill that it would always be our BEST effort. In fact, it should be done so well that we would be delighted to receive it ourselves. Whatever it is, it is worth doing WELL … “as unto the LORD.”
God did that. When He made us, He did it with so much love and care that He DELIGHTS to look at us—His own work of art! He doesn’t let a moment go by that He’s not watching us, thinking about us, directing us, delighting in us. In fact, He has sacrificed so much for us that He desires to receive us … for Himself … FOREVER!
“The Lord takes pleasure in his people; he honors the humble with victory.” (Psalm 149:4, GNT)
We are the delightful, pleasurable fruit of God’s hands. Fruit reproduces like fruit, and we naturally delight our Father when we recreate delight out of our own hands—which also becomes our own best reward.
Imagine the quilt-maker at the county fair who, after the judging is complete, is given the highest award possible—not only a blue ribbon, but the “Best of Show.” Her workmanship is the finest, her design the most challenging, and her effort is the BEST of the best. Therefore, as the prize for her incredible accomplishment, she is given her own work. The prizewinning quilt … becomes the PRIZE!
“Give her of the fruit of her (own) hands … (Proverbs 31:31 KJV)
If, as the Scripture says, our works will eventually come back to us as evidence and reward of our dedication and accomplishment, then excellence must be our hallmark. We must express our highest and best ideals in all that we do NOW—as a labor of love—into the work that God has assigned with the talents and gifts that He created in us.
“If anyone serves, they should do so with (ALL) the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11 NIV)
My mother was the epitome of doing things “with all (her) heart, and with all (her) strength.” All her life, whatever she put her hands to do, she tried to give the very best she could with the skills that God invested in her. Music, writing, cooking, bookkeeping, gardening. And yet, through the years, she suffered so many deep heartbreaks. She lost her mother when she was only fourteen; she was separated from her father when he remarried and moved away; she lost her beloved husband after only eight short years of marriage … and she suffered all kinds of other deep sadnesses through the years. Yes, God was good, but for much of what she gave her best efforts, she never saw the final fruit. At the end of her life, she could have felt a bit short-changed and wondered, “Wait! Is THAT all there is?! I tried SO HARD! What do I have to show for it??!” But, in the end, I know THAT never entered her glorified mind. Rather, I imagine her singing,
“The veil is torn, the doors fling wide,
I see GLORY as I run inside
The THRONE ROOM
and before YOU, I bow …”
All the glory goes to Jesus! But, you know what? I can’t help thinking, if Mom could see NOW how her children and her children’s children’s children continue to walk in the ways of the LORD as she taught us—always trying to give their very BEST in all they do—that she would consider THAT sweet fruit, indeed.
When we reach the Gates of Glory, all our hard work that was done “as unto the LORD” will be rewarded BY the LORD. “Let her own works praise her IN THE GATES …” It will be worth it all when we see Jesus, where we will “call (His) walls Salvation and (His) GATES PRAISE.” (Isaiah 60:18 NIV)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me always to do my BEST. You are the Eternal Judge, and as I give my best life to You, You will reward me with the truly best LIFE … FOREVER! Thank You! Amen.
