A maximum-weight takeoff from a 300-meter (984-foot), muddy airstrip can reveal that the shiny airplane hides poor rigging and a weak cylinder. But professional aviators know that a successful flight operation depends upon good maintenance, so we inspect our machines thoroughly. The veracity of our internal procedures determines if we accomplish our mission or not. Order parts on time, or the airplanes don’t fly. Balance the checking account, or run out of money. So, we reconcile carefully.

However, hard work to tame hidden things has a drawback—no splash, no glory, no praise. Who sees our efforts? The Lord for sure, but what about everybody else? Do they see? Do they care? Outsiders neither understand nor appreciate our labor. So sometimes we consider fudging a bit, bypassing the hidden stuff and going for the stage. After all, the show must go on. Fortunately, we usually resist the lie.

The problem is, of course, that even after fierce battles, visible flame still draws us like beguiled moths. We forget that judging the outside without knowing the inside produces wrong conclusions.

So, how is His still, small voice showing up in the hidden jobs and unknown people of your ministry?

1 Kings 19:11-13, Matthew 6:5-6, 1 Chronicles 28:9

Excerpt from Call For News-Reflections of a Missionary Pilot
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