(April 26, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares very personally…
Well, it hit me unexpectedly the other night!
Reflection
Now I admit that I was feeling a little ‘under the proverbial weather’ being tired after a busy day of writing and ghosting (ghostwriting) for our E-Mag, some counselling, encouraging folk and other matters.
Encouraging some ‘seniors’ was directing them to ‘keep on keeping on,’ content with doing whatever God wants of them where they are and, if in ministry, not be concerned about being unable to travel around like they used to do. (Maureen and I have had to do so).
Then I’ve been finding some seniors who are also feeling tired, and struggling to do as much as they were used to be doing… and even some younger folk who were feeling out of it. One chap told me he was turning 50 and felt so old! (I almost said, ‘Old? Wait till you’re my age!’)
Reality
The reality is that we all have issues in life, whatever age! We all need encouragements, firstly from our life partners – praise God I’ve had my encouraging Maureen 63 years come July – then bosses, pastors and friend(s).
While it’s great that we can chat/email/Skype with friends whom we know we can fully trust, it’s especially great that we can hand everything over to the powerful Holy Spirit, our best friend of all!
Back to my experience the other night when I felt to read Revelation 22. Certain verses particularly caught my attention, probably because some folk had been saying that with all the darkness around the world the Lord will be returning soon. I had commented that it does seem closer than ever before… but the truth is that no one knows when, and as scripture doesn’t give a date, be wary of those who prophesy dates! All such ‘prophets’ over decades have been proved wrong, including those when Covid first hit!
We can all find several scriptures about Jesus returning (check DailyVerses.net). He did say He’d be back – but clearly stated in Matthew 24:44 that His return would be unexpectedly, and in verse 36 that He didn’t know the date, nor anyone else!
Those verses that caught my attention? Revelation 22:7,12,20… each telling that the Lord was returning!
Reward
But it was verse 12NASB that really grabbed me – ‘Behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me, to reward each one as his work deserves.’ CJV begins: ‘Pay attention!’
I was certainly paying attention! And recalling Christian blessings –
- Being born again.
- Knowing Jesus as our Saviour and intercessor.
- Belonging to God’s worldwide family.
- Rejoicing that sins are forgiven and eternal life ours.
- Having the powerful Holy Spirit within, our helper and friend.
But… a rewards blessing? Here was a reminder that Jesus is also our Master and we’re called to serve Him! Other thoughts immediately came to mind…
- ‘Reward’ is misthos, to pay for services rendered!
- ‘Work’ is ergon, toiling in occupation or effort.
- Jesus is going to reward us in respect of what we’ve done for Him!
- Personally I can no longer minister around as I used to!
- My meagre efforts doing what I do these days aren’t much!
And the big one… ‘For that matter, Lord, what have I really done for you all these years?’
Reminiscence
Sure I’ve often warned individuals not to compare themselves to other servants of God, that they’re not a Billy Graham or some other famous evangelist, teacher or pastor. Now I didn’t have to remind myself of that… but it had me recalling how I’d fallen short in various areas. Yes, I could have done more, been wiser in many things, made better decisions… but hadn’t. I even found myself thinking ‘Even my darling Maureen’s rewards will be greater than mine!’
Then I caught myself on! That spirit of deception that’s been very strong over the past couple of years deceiving Christians, was now trying to trick me! So I rejoiced and humbly great acknowledged positive truths –
- Hallelujah, Lord, I am accepted by you when you return!
- Whatever my reward, Lord, it’ll be fantastic!
- Praise you, Lord, for those who have accomplished more than me!
- Thank you, Lord, for whatever their reward may be.
- I redetermine, Lord, to continue doing whatever you assign in ‘my old age’!
Reassurance
Ephesians 2:10 came to mind: ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Now that’s comforting… my lot as a servant of Jesus is that which Father God prepared before I even knew my Lord!
I’ve always been happy to do God’s ‘whatevers’… even when one pastor handed me, a senior Bible college student, a broom and told me to go clean the church toilets that hadn’t been cleaned for months, let alone when one distinguished leader authorised me to take over Christian magazines management.
God knew in advance what I could accomplish, and couldn’t, and was happy to choose me, obviously content with ‘little me’… just as He knew the greater accomplishments others could achieve over the centuries!
So… I’m getting on with my current commissions – in my study. Here I will keep on keeping on! As good friend of countless years and E-Mag contributor Brian Bell said recently, ‘These days we can work from anywhere in the world without even needing to leave home.’
Personally I can agree with Paul’s Philippians 4:11. But I wonder… could you befeeling unworthy like I was the other night? Be encouraged to move on with His help! Your reward awaits.
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Dr Robert McQuillan’s links: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook
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Connecting with You! 
Hello Robert, I really needed this one! Thank you for your encouragement! I hope all is well with you and your bride. I’ve been dealing with my hip issues by doing exercises but some days it hurts so much, that I have to take some over-the-counter pain medications. I have been researching my hip issue and I plan to switch doctors. I’ve been busy catching up with things I’ve put off, which has required research and phone calls.
Sometimes, those things wear me out more than working in my flowerbeds. Because of my hip issue, I’ve had to slow down more than I like. However, my sons and grandchildren have been helping me with my yard work. I’ve been planting more trees so I will have more shade. I am hoping to get back to writing stories for a Christian magazine soon.
I have a story coming out in a hard-backed anthology from Guideposts in August, then another in November. Let me know how you and Maureen are doing. You are still in my daily prayers. Love, hugs and many, many blessings, Carol.
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Thank you, Carol, for your prayers… and for your own openness in your Comment. May your encouragement above bless and encourage others ‘to keep on keeping on’ — having learned much from our years of experience, we seniors still have much to achieve for the Lord and can be ‘fathers and mothers to piritual Israel.’
It is not by coincidence Robert, earlier this morning I read Philippians 4 — in which Paul tells us about learning how to be content.
In this life we will never be complete, we may mess up, others may mess up, we’ll struggle with tiredness and sickness, the enemy will tempt us and try to discourage us, but Paul who also reminds us, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
A lovely old song includes these words — ‘Little is much when God is in it, labour not for wealth or fame. There’s a crown and you can win it, if you’ll go in Jesus name.’ For some the ‘go’ may be literal while for some of us it means doing what we can where we are and with whatever ability we have been given by God.
Many years ago now, in his later years of life, a faithful child of God I know was diagnosed with terminal cancer. When asked if he would slow up he said ‘You run all the faster when you see the finish line ahead.’
So keep on keeping on Robert, sharing your heart-felt, honest and personal God-given experiences within these wonderful articles of encouragement.
Thanks, Brian, for your confirmatory encouragement. I will definitely ‘keep on keeping on!’ And, knowing you, I’m convinced that you will too. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we’ll go on doing whatever our Lord requires of us!