Climbing toward real purpose.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

These stairs survived where they led, but now they are useless. Someone worked hard to build these stairs to reach something, but that structure is gone. The stairs lead to nowhere. No one uses them. They are slowly crumbling and will eventually return to dust. No one will remember they existed.

We build things every day in life—bank accounts, spreadsheets, buildings, social circles, engines, children’s toys. We feel we have failed if we haven’t built enough—but it’s never enough.  We are obsessed with failing—always searching for the steps that will lead us to our idea of success.

Evangelist and publisher D.L. Moody said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter.”

“Learn to do good. Seek justice.
Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”
Isaiah 1:17 New Living Translation

Every step that leads to God and builds His kingdom—encouraging others, caring for widows and children in poverty, the homeless, our neighbors—those are the steps God desires we should build. They will never lead to nowhere. They will never crumble. They will never turn to dust.

“If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.”
Romans 12:8-10 New Living Translation

Copyright text and picture Desiree Bustamante