Then Jesus…said to him, “One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:21 NKJV).
The months following our commitment to God to make of our bodies a living sacrifice were very difficult, a time of deep cleansing and purifying as God prepared us for His service. Low blood sugar and allergies took a tremendous toll on my health, but with the help of an allergy doctor and food supplements, I was better. However, I still felt that something was lacking―perhaps a vitamin or mineral we needed?
One day in February of, 1981, as I was dusting, I said absentmindedly, “What do we lack, Lord?” The Lord’s answer was immediate and succinct, “One thing you lack, sell what you have, give to the poor, and come follow me” (Mark 10:21 paraphrase). I stopped in mid-motion, speechless. Then I said, “Well, if this is you, Lord, you will have to make it VERY clear because this isn’t something we can do without knowing for sure.”
Time passed, and I believed God was saying He was asking us to give Him a year of full time service. What He wanted us to do during that year was not yet clear. Even though Donn hated his job, the thought of leaving it to do God only knew what (truly!) terrified him. And yet the question I had asked God, as well as His startling answer, continued to haunt me. What do we lack?
Help us to see our lives from your perspective, Father, knowing that our eyes may be blinded to what we lack by the things to which we cling. Amen.
Our home in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, from 1979 to 1982.
For the next few weeks, I will post blogs from Homespun Faith each week to maintain the continuity of what God was doing in our lives at that time. The featured photo is of me in our home in Penn Hills.
(Devotional from Homespun Faith, Reflections from the Seasons of Life, copyright 2014 Daisy Beiler Townsend. Available as paperback or ebook: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Xulon Press. There are Links on this website on the Where to Buy Homespun Faith and Sarah’s Legacy page. Locally at Fresh Grounds, M & M Grocery, Leanna’s Books, Penn Alps in Grantsville, Maryland, or from me 724-373-8445 or donaisy@neo.rr.com.)