A Huge Crowd of Witnesses

Today I'm sharing a blog post from fellow author and friend, Phee Paradise. To learn more about her books and current projects, go to: Phee Paradise author (FB)

A few years ago, on a hot August morning, I was the only visitor to a private, enclosed park. It was so quiet I half expected to hear the voice of the Son of God falling on my ear, like in the hymn about the garden. It’s not a very big park. It doesn’t have a playground or picnic tables or a pond with ducks gliding across the water. It doesn’t even have any flowers. It just has trees that stand apart from each other; alone, yet joined in a memorial community in this peaceful space.

Just inside the gate is a board with a list of missionaries commemorated by the trees. I stopped to read the names, but I had to walk among the trees to understand the park. Many of the trees were exotic, reminiscent of the countries where these men and women devoted entire lives to the service of their Lord. A small bottle brush honored an agriculturist in Columbia. A eucalyptus remembered an engineer in India; a tall jacaranda from the Congo proclaimed a builder. An old oak told of a pilot in Afghanistan and a cherry announced a preacher in Japan.

Eventually I found a name I recognized. A doctor had spent his life in China, working beside my grandfather who trained Chinese pastors. As I gazed at the large gingko, I thought about my grandparents and the sacrifices they had made so people across the world could hear the Good News. They lost a baby; they sent their other children away to school; their youngest son went blind. Yet they served joyfully, trusting God to turn it all to good.

Overwhelmed by the faithfulness of these mighty servants of God, I sat on a bench. Looking back on my own life, I wondered what I had done that compares to their devoted service. I was humbled in their presence. That’s when the Son of God spoke to me.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1. (NLT)

The example of His servants who have gone before me is a reminder that I too am His servant and have a work He’s given me to do. I too have a race to run. He hasn’t called me to the mission field like my grandparents. But He’s called me to serve Him in my home, my work and my church. Like them, He wants me to persevere in my work – to run the race with endurance.

Sitting in the park, I bowed my head and thanked God for the ministry He’s given me.

Pray with me:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reminder of those who have served God before me. Let their memory spur me on to serve You. By Your grace, let me persevere. Forgive me when I am selfish and choose not to share my home, my time or my life with those in need. Open my eyes to see those around me and fill me with your love for them.