A long time ago, before some of the medical advances available to us today, a little boy was crippled, and doctors said there was nothing they could do to help him. So the boy’s mother took an orange crate and made a box for him. She put him in the box, tied a rope to it, tied the rope around her waist, and pulled him around with her so she could keep a close watch over him. Everywhere she went, she pulled him along behind her.
After a while, the boy developed a habit the mother didn’t like. He began to rock his box. This made taking him places more difficult because not only did she have to drag him, he was rocking his box. She pleaded with him to stop, but he kept rocking. Sometimes, he rocked his box to the point that it tipped over and he fell out of it. No matter how many times she put him back in the box, he kept rocking.
Eventually, he rocked his box until he was finally able to get out of it. Then, to everyone’s amazement he learned how to walk and ended up with a great life.
That little boy did something that the doctors and not even his loving mother believed could happen. He refused to settle for life inside a box someone had put him in. Has somebody or something put you in a box that you want to get out of? If so, keep rocking your box until you are free. The world and people in it are experts at telling us what we can and can’t do. They don’t always celebrate anything “out of the box,” which is something out of the ordinary. Time after time I have seen ordinary people do extraordinary things when they believed they could and refused to give up.
Everyone faces challenges in life. Some people are completely overwhelmed by their challenges while others, like the little boy in the box, refuse to give up. My question to you is, “Do you want to be able to meet all challenges head-on and overcome them?” Then get mentally prepared for whatever comes. Remember, according to Colossians 3:2, the way to be prepared is to “set your mind and keep it set.”
Don’t be caught off guard and unprepared. Repeatedly thinking and saying, “I can do whatever I need to do in life through Christ,” will help you set your mind and keep it set in that direction, and it will set you up to win in life. Remember, where the mind goes, the man follows!
Do not allow yourself to think thoughts such as, I just cannot take any more trouble! Or, If one more thing happens I am going to go over the edge! Or, If things don’t change soon—I am giving up! There are many varieties of this kind of thinking—and you may have a favorite thought or saying of this type that you use when you feel overwhelmed. But do you realize these thinking patterns actually prepare you to be defeated before you even encounter a problem? There is nothing strong, powerful, enabling, or victorious in thinking you will “go over the edge” or deciding to quit. Those are losing attitudes, not winning attitudes. Don’t say things like “I feel like I am losing my mind,” or “This is going to kill me.” Instead you can say, “I have the mind of Christ,” and “This trial is going to work out for my good.” Be a person who is mentally prepared for any challenge that crosses your path, and do not allow yourself to be easily discouraged and defeated. Always remember that apart from Jesus you can do nothing (see John 15:5), but in Him you can do whatever you need to do in life (see Philippians 4:13). Decide to rock your box until it falls apart.
Think about It
What box do you need to rock?
Me and Dad
A friend once spent a day installing large stone steps in his backyard. When his 5-year-old daughter begged to help, he suggested she just sing to encourage him in his work. She said no. She wanted to help. Carefully, when it would not endanger her, he let her place her hands on the rocks as he moved them.
He could have built the steps in less time without her. At the end of the day, though, he not only had new steps but also a daughter bursting with pride. “Me and Dad made steps,” she announced at dinner that night.
From the beginning, God has relied on people to advance His work. After equipping Adam to cultivate the land and supervise the animals, God left the work of the garden in his hands (Gen. 2:15-20).
The pattern has continued. When God wanted a dwelling place on earth, a tabernacle and temple did not descend from the sky; thousands of artists and craftsmen worked to fashion them (Ex. 35–38; 1 Kings 6). When Jesus proclaimed the new reign of God’s kingdom on earth, He invited human beings to help. He told His disciples, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:38).
As a father does with his children, so does God welcome us as His kingdom partners.
Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your love and wisdom, You invite us to accomplish Your acts of love, service, and kindness here on earth. Thank You for the privilege of “helping” You.
God uses humble servants to accomplish His great work.
Insight
As we read in today’s text Jesus’ response to the multitudes, we see three distinct elements to that response. First of all, Jesus saw something. He saw the crowds of people “weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). Additionally, He felt something because, as verse 36 tells us, He was “moved with compassion for them.” Finally, the Master did something by calling for laborers to join in the work with Him (v.38). Christ’s example gives us a powerful model for engaging people with the heart of Christ.
Read: Matthew 9:35–10:1
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. —Genesis 2:15
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