“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. For we are God’s masterpiece.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
Do you remember when you experienced the leaking faucet in your home? You tried to tighten it as tight as you could, but the leak kept dripping! You even went to your toolbox and pulled out some tools and put forth your best effort to turn the off-on fixture as far as you could to the left, but you found yourself right where you started. The leaking faucet continued to drip at a steady rate. That scenario, or situation, was surmised or described to be a bad thing.
I need to tell you that all leaking faucets are not a bad thing. I need you to become aware of the instances were the leaking faucet, whether it is a drip or a steady stream, flowing constantly, that it is not always a bad thing. You might be thinking, “What is he talking about?” Well, if you are, here is the answer to your inquiry. Many of you, after the church service has ended, after the benediction had provided you with a final blessing, after you have taken off your Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, and even after the Sunday sunset, you, yes you, most of you reading this, can be called leaking faucets. This is not a bad thing! Now wait! Let me explain! Nothing and no one could turn off the evidence that you have been born again. Throughout time, the time past what we usually call “church time” or the time to do the work of the church through organized ministries, you continue to be the leaking faucet from a personal perspective. How so? You were a Good Samaritan, and you helped a stranger that was not like you. You were a great grandparent or auntie or uncle, influencing younger members of your family in a positive way during their developmental years. You were the light that kept shining wherever you went and not a single person could darken the glow that comes with being what Jesus described as “the light of the world.” Are you still asking how so? Well, let me continue. You helped a disabled customer get his or her purchases on the conveyor at the local store. You even let that person go before you and you went even further by asking, “Are you going to be able to make it from here?” You ran in a corporate challenge to benefit others in the heat of summer, not to move up the ladder of success, but to climb higher in your service to help “the least of these.” You led or were on one of two teams that contributed over $6,000 dollars’ worth of diapers to a local diaper bank. Divide that by twenty-nine cents a diaper and you will see how many diapers these teams (at my church by the way) provided for struggling mothers and their young children! You ministered to the homeless last week, and you do it quite often, and all that you do is not for show, but it is to show your Christ-like heart. You did not let your doctoral degree get in the way of helping a non-profit organization raise funds by manning a funnel cake station after already being up eight hours on the one day you could have rested up for the start of the work week on Monday. Periodically you send cards to your pastor, along with a single dollar, to encourage him. Those dollars are worth more than the denomination printed on them! You express your appreciation to this writer by sending a brief reply after reading a meditation periodically, letting me know that my labor is not in vain. You are a leaking faucet! Do you still need more proof? You give to others every week in ways that are secret. You have clothed those who needed clothing. You have fed the hungry. You have visited those in prisons. Don’t worry if nobody knows all you do. Your Father in Heaven sees your good works! The leaking faucet examples continue in the next paragraph.
Without even mentioning a Scripture, not even a short verse, you faithfully fulfill your role as the salt of the earth, preserving, protecting, perfecting, and purifying the world around you by your changed lifestyle. You know the lifestyle I’m talking about, don’t you? That lifestyle that reflects your saying, “It is no longer I who lives, but the Christ who lives in me.” Oh, I could go on and on and on! But instead, let me just say thank you to all the leaking faucets, those cited and those not mentioned as examples! Thank all you leaking faucets that are reading this meditation on this Wednesday morning and are ready to start your day being God-conscious! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! You are an inspiration, and you have an immense impact on others. Keep leaking! Someone needs living water, and they will be reach out to get it because of you! Have a great day! Be blessed!
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23 English Standard Version)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King