September 21, 2025
Jesus told
His disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in
God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house
has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going
there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with
me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the
way to the place where I am going.” John 14: 1-4 (NIV)
Jesus went
to prepare a place for Charlie Kirk and, for you and me. While on the faculty
at Taylor University, I always heard a funeral referred to as a “homecoming.” Charlie
has gone home and will be there when his loved ones arrive in years to come.
We are all
children of God. We are all Charlies, in our own blessed way, and every “way”
is different, equally measured out, and designed to serve Him. I heard of a
young man who attended a week-long spiritual rally. Whether the story is true
or not, the underlying message is amazing. The revival meeting didn’t draw huge
numbers, and attendance dwindled as the week went along. The few that remained
at the close of the week greeted the evangelist at the end of the last evening’s
service. One young man shook the evangelist’s hand and said, “My name is Billy
Graham.” No, the evangelist didn’t reach many people, but Billy did. In my
heart, I know that God planned it that way and blessed them both with “A job
well done, good and faithful servant.”
Given a
task, with Jesus at our side, we can fulfill it. We are not all called to establish
a great movement like Charlie did. We are called to provide the witness that He
gave us. We do not diminish that gift by saying, “But, God, no one will notice
me. They won’t know that I am important to you with such a small job you have given
me.”
Hallelujah,
Lord, there are no small tasks. The books I write touch people I usually do not
know, in ways I do not know. As a psychologist, my words were buried deep in a
client’s heart even when I thought they hadn't heard me. Some would say, “Dr.
Rapp, I remember when you said ….” My first thought was usually, “Oh my, what
did I say that time?” But it was a blessing to them, because Jesus sat with us
in my office.
We are all
servants. I would rather scrub the floors in Christ’s heavenly home, than to be
met at the door with, “I’m sorry. I do not know you.” As you remember Charlie
Kirk, his life, his work, and his witness, I challenge you to pray every day, a
special prayer – the servant’s prayer.
“Oh, God
of glory, holy is your name. May your kingdom come on earth and may I serve you
while I’m here. Give me the courage to serve your people, to speak your name and
your message, and to say exactly what someone needs to hear today, or to do
what needs to be done. May I not know who it was, or under what circumstances,
so that I may not boast. Only you deserve glory, Lord God. I pray in the name
of your son, my savior, Jesus Christ. Amen”
Blessings
to all,
I hope you
live all of your life.
Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.
