“WHY DO I WRITE?”

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4 KJV)

I was recently asked, “How many responses do I get on the average, to the daily Mark Writes meditations?” Before I could answer that question, the inquirer posed a second question before I could open my mouth, “How many followers do you have from your emails or your blog site?” I’m standing motionless, feeling like a battered witness being interrogated by the most skilled trial barrister of all time.  

I was ready to answer with statistics, but suddenly I was moved to respond with a succinct, two-sentence response, “It is not important how many people I receive responses from or how many people I hear make reference to what they have read. What is important is that I do what the Lord has put on my heart to do to help somebody along the way.”  The roles in the conversation changed. I became the lawyer, presenting a final argument to a one-person jury. Hence, I go on to refer with extracted words from what Jesus said in the opening verse: “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day.”

If my words did not strike a chord with you immediately, let me admit that the first part of my response in the paragraph above was inspired by some words that I had heard sang by the late, great Mahalia Jackson many, many years ago on one of my mother’s records, as well as in the assembly of the saints. You probably heard them sang at your church too, back in the day. If not, let me refresh your memory. With sincerity surging out of her unmatchable voice, she sang, “If I can help somebody as I travel along. If I can help somebody in a word or a song. If I can help somebody from doing wrong. No, my living shall not be in vain.”

My friend, one of my purposes for living at this time in life is to make Mark Writes readers God-conscious and to influence them with a word, to live a Christ-centered life. The statistics regarding followers or respondents, or the number of people who quote extracts from these meditations is not significant. Forget the statistics and focus on the staying. Yes, note that I am just staying with my purpose.

What purpose has the Lord assigned to you or gifted you to do? Are you doing it, and doing it faithfully? If you are, don’t worry about whether you get accolades, applauses, or affirmations in one form or the other. Just continue to do what the Lord has moved you to do for the sake of His kingdom. Help somebody, if just one “somebody,” along the way, and you will please God. And when you please God, well you already know, He will bless you somehow, some way, at some time.

On the other hand, if you are not fulfilling your purpose, then what are you waiting for beloved? Enough said on this Tuesday morning. For the person who asked the question, you can revisit my response. For everyone else, now you know why I write. Hopefully you respond by simply renewing your work for the Lord. Be blessed!

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (I Peter 4:10 NLT)

Committed to the climb,

Mark L. King