to count for something

I read the stories of women now widowed because their husbands were killed by those who hate Christians. Or who are imprisoned for speaking truth to their Muslim friends about the Messiah.

I see the pictures of those who have gone far away, giving up everything in America, to reach the nations for Jesus. And the blog posts of those who have given up much in order to show compassion to the orphan.

And what have I done? I want to count for something more than living focused on myself, my family, my little world. I want to have fruit for Heaven. I want to live in some more sacrificial way than my life here tends to. Something for Jesus.

Is it just so I can say, "here Jesus, I did something for You"? That wouldn't be worth much. He doesn't want me thinking I've done good works and therefore have something to offer, when His work is all I should be boasting in.

But I want to live for something more than my little world, to do something that counts for eternity! Surely God does not put his children in a place where they cannot bear real fruit.

Show me Jesus. Fix my eyes on Him. Attach me to the Vine, without whom I can do nothing; that I might focus on Him and thus bear much fruit...