Movie Credits A Devotion

OH LORD, IT'S MONDAY!

But thank God!  He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.  Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.  Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.  But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (New Living Translation)

One morning last week as God and I were simply communing together, He gave me a thought that I believe is worth sharing this week.  It came about through those movie and TV show credits.  At the end of every show or movie there is a long list of credits.  It starts with the main stars and moves down to the bottom of the list.  Now be honest, how many of you read all of those credits?  When you go to a movie theater, do you remain seated until all of the credits have been listed?  You do read those don’t you?

The vast majority of people, myself included, rarely if ever read or notice those names and the work they did in the making of that episode or movie.  So I began to do a dangerous thing for me:  I began to think about it.  My initial response to this question was very shallow, “I don’t know why they put all those names and their work up there.  No one really reads them, do they?”  And then the Father said to me, “Some people read them because it matters to them.”  Again, in typical form I replied, “But who in the world would do that?”  And the Father was silent as I thought about my own question.

And it hit me like a ton of bricks:  it matters to them, to their spouse, their children, their parents, their siblings and their best friends.  When that long list is scrolling down, there is someone who says, “Hey, I know them!”  “That’s my husband!”  “That’s my wife!”  “That’s my Mom!”  “That’s my Dad!”  “That’s my son!”  “That’s my daughter!”  “That’s my best friend!”  And to that person who gave their time and energy, “That’s my work!”  The vast majority of those people are never seen on the screen but their contribution is absolutely essential.  And though it be ignored by so many people, those who produced it give credit, be it ever so small, to those who made that movie, that episode possible.

The next day I came across today’s Scripture.  Paul reminds us that God “uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere.”  Yes, God uses you to spread around our world, around YOUR world, the aroma and fragrance of Christ.  Now, please do not insult God with that pseudo humility by saying, “Oh shucks, I can’t do anything significant for the Kingdom of God.  I really don’t have anything that really makes a difference.”  Don’t turn your back on God by saying, “Oh, I haven’t been a Christian long enough to do anything significant.”  And don’t you dare slap God in the face by saying, “Oh, I’m too old to do much of anything in the Kingdom.  Besides, it’s time for them young folks to step up and take my place.”  Oh, I just heard some of you thinking, “You’ve lost your ever loving mind!  I would never slap God in the face!”  But when you think you are too old or that it’s time for them young people to do the work themselves, when you step aside rather than step into a new role, this is exactly what you do.  You slap God in the face.  Why do I say this?

Because YOU, yes YOU, - young or old, male or female, ditch digger or C.E.O. matter to God!  God has big plans for this world and this time.  God has never changed His purpose or His plans.  God wants to redeem this world by redeeming the people in the world.  To this goal God has called you to become His partner, and to become the co-worker with Jesus Himself!  Your role, your work matters to God, even if no one ever notices it.  Do not be so arrogant as to think that the only way your contribution counts is if someone notices it.  But it matters to God because HE notices it all!  Not a single thing escapes His attention.

He doesn’t get up and leave the theater before the credits have finished.  He stays until the last frame passes on the screen.  I would even imagine He calls out to the person operating the projector, “Hey, would you mind replaying those credits again?  Fascinating, absolutely fascinating!”  He doesn’t get up from the couch for a glass of tea or some popcorn while the credits are running.  He stays right there on His throne, watching that long list of names and their work scrolling down the screen.  And every name that scrolls down, without exception, God says, “I know them!  That’s my son!  She’s my daughter!”  Your name may even be the last one on that screen, but God recognizes you!  You may be ignored by the world and you may even be ignored by most in the church.  But you will never be ignored by God!  Never!  Not now, and not ever in eternity!

So, go ahead and do your work.  Oh, there may be some “special guest stars” who will not give you the time of day. But go ahead and be faithful to your task.  You’re not doing it for them.  You are doing it for “the big picture.”  Paul reminds us that our part in this enormous production called life will be perceived differently by those around us.  Some will not understand it; others will not even notice it.  But somewhere there is someone who will take notice and because of you, yes you, they will come face to face with Jesus and accept His offer of a new life.  And when time shall be no more, and God finishes His final production, He will run that long list of credits, and with every name that comes up, He will say without exception, “I know them!  Man, they did a great, great job!”

When we are faithful to show up on the set and do our work and KNOW that God notices and KNOW that it makes a difference to someone, then every Monday morning we can say, “Good!  Lord it’s Monday!  What shall we do together?”

Let us pray:  Father, thank you for giving me a place in your production of Redemption.  Oh, by the way, thanks for noticing my name.  Amen and Amen!

An Anonymous Pilgrim Who’s Heart Has Been Set On Fire On The Road To Emmaus