The way is paved

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. (Charles Spurgeon)

Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds. Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. (Philippians 4:5-8)

While society pushes for this thing or the other, believers are to be focused on one thing above all - allowing God to develop his character within us through the actions of the Holy Spirit teaching, reminding, and reinforcing the true character of Christ in our lives. While society tells us to think about our own needs, God tells us to think about the needs of one another. While society finds peace easily interrupted by one crash of the market, or the devastation of a storm, God tells us to build upon a foundation that is strong and enduring - his Word. God's peace is standing guard when our hearts and minds seem to be swaying back and forth between what society touts as 'worthwhile' and 'important'. We begin to 'feel' the Spirit of God sorting out the chaff from the wheat in our thoughts, and then it begins to affect our actions, bringing 'evenness' and 'peace' while others seem to be in all manner of chaos. 

God wants us to look out for each other, so who is it that he has brought across your path today who may need your help? Who is it whose mind is whirling with all manner of uncertainty, just longing for someone to help them sort out those feelings and thoughts? Where is it that your hands can be useful? God isn't just improving our thought life and giving us peace within our hearts so we can sit on our hands - he expects us to share that peace. Who needs to shift their focus away from all the chaos of society and toward the things that are good and worthy of praise? Perhaps you will be the one to help another realize the futility of all that strife and striving - helping them to find the peace and grace of God to endure even when life isn't all that 'great' right now.

God's message for us today is simply to 'continue'. Continue in his grace to give of yourselves, even when others seem to reject your efforts. Continue in his peace, allowing others to feel the 'spill-over' effect of that peace. Continue in hearing his Word, then putting it into action in your life until it begins to affect more than just you. When we begin to allow the Spirit of God to develop the character of Christ within us, we are paving the way for him to touch the lives of others through us. Just sayin!