Making Straight D's

*Making Straight D's*

"And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with
fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh." Jude 21-22

William Farish invented the academic grading system known as report cards.
You know, those five letters - A, B, C, D, and F - that either blessed you
or cursed you on a recurring basis for so many years. While, for the first
time in your life, you are being given the opportunity and encouraged to
make straight D's where the D stands for Difference. In other words, D is
the new A. But first, a gentle word of warning. Sometimes (and we all fall
prey to this temptation) we are so intent on making a difference for the
Lord in a given endeavour that we fail to make a difference in other areas -
areas that may be more important in God's eyes. We should strive to do
everything with excellence, including our job or our academic work, but with
God, getting an A in "performance" is not as important as getting a D for
making a difference for Him.

So how do you identify the areas in which you are called to make a
difference? You start right right where you are - literally - in terms of
your personal life, your family life, your church and the world. Ask
yourself: As a result of personal worship, obedience to Scripture, and
intimacy with the Saviour, am I more different (more like Christ) this year
than last year? If you and I can't see a difference in our own life, how
can we possibly make a difference in the lives of others? If our spouse,
children, siblings, relatives, friends, and neighbours don't see a
difference in our marriage when compared to the world, why would they be
attracted to the Saviour we confess to know? As members of Christ's body,
the church, we have an obligation to make a difference through prayer and
participation by serving and giving financially. There is an automatic
disconnect when we say we are a Christian but don't participate in a local
expression of Christ's body (Heb. 10:24-25). At the same time, the world is
full of people who gave up on Christ because they felt their parents loved
"church" and getting an A for attendance more than they loved them and
neglected the D for making a difference in their lives. And as we focus on
making D's in the other areas of life, let's not lose sight of the
importance of making a difference at our job or school, in our
neighbourhood, in our community and in the world beyond.

Making a difference for Christ is not a regimented, step-by-step process.
It's a life of continual sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He
guides and corrects our life, allowing us to make multiple D's at the same
time. Finally, a report card we don't have to fear and don't have to be
ashamed of. Instead, we can be pleased to show a report card with straight
D's and a hand-written note from the Teacher Himself: "Well done, thou good
and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make
thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord" (Matt.
25:21).

*To make a difference, you need to know the difference between an A and a D
on God's grading system not man's. (Mark Varga)*