Monday Morning Devotion-June 26, 2017
God at Work
God works for those who wait for Him. Isaiah 64:4
John Piper, Founder and Teacher of desiringgod.org said this in an on-line article:
"Only few things have gripped me with greater joy than the truth that God loves to show his God-ness by working for me, and His working for me is always before and under and in any working I do for him.
At first it may sound arrogant of us, and belittling to God, to say that He works for us. But that's only because of the connotation that I am an employer and God needs a job. That's not the connotation when the Bible talks about God's working for us.
It would be more appropriate to say that God works for me because I am bankrupt and need a bailout. I am weak and need someone strong. I am endangered and need a protector. I am foolish and need someone wise. I am lost and need a Rescuer.
God works for me means I can't do the work." Or, not alone…we can't.
That's not the way we like to think about things. We don't want to feel weak or incapable. Truthfully, we may not be. We could have physical strength. Or we may be blessed with mental toughness or astuteness. That doesn't mean that we don't need God to work for us.
You see, God never takes a day off. Thank heaven for that. What if He did? The world would fall into utter chaos. Even more chaos than already exists.
Yes, God is working for us whether we realize or admit it or not. I can't count the number of times when I've called to memory the Mark Batterson phrase: "Pray as if it depends on God, work as if it depends on you." That's the teamwork that gets the best results.
God expects us to do our part but, thankfully he doesn't expect us to do it all alone.
Chris Russell, who has pastored a church in Cincinnati and been involved in writing, Christian Radio, and has spoken in seven different countries, points out some of the ways that God works for those who love Him.
First of all, Russell points out a key verse of scripture to remember that tells it like it is:
Romans 8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
And are called according to His purpose.
Here are some ways God works in our lives:
1) God provides for us. Even when things seem to be taken away from us, in the long run God provides more and we realize those things lost to us enabled Him to bless us.
2) God changes hearts. His super-amazing ability is at work in transforming hearts to fit
His perfect plan.
3) God protects us as he protected the Children of Israel in the midst of the plagues in Egypt.
4) God empowers us to get through challenging events we, otherwise, would not make it
through.
5) God can befuddle the enemy. Even when it seems that someone is pulling something
over on you, keep in mind in the long run God has a plan for this and justice will
prevail.
6) God strengthens us. He uses trials to give us spiritual strength.
7) God builds our character. He can use pain to refine us and make us stronger.
8) God heals us. He is the Great Physician. Nothing is beyond His control.
9) God develops our wisdom. It's hard to measure this but when we are dialed in to
God, He often uses pain or difficult times to help us learn about life.
10) God gives us purpose and direction. He can point out the best, most certain path even in the midst of hardship.
All of that is a lot to consider. In fact, as we go about our lives and our routines we
probably hardly ever think about any of those things. Well, not until we really need God to intervene or interpose His will or rescue us. But when we lead our lives in a way that honors
God, don't think He doesn't notice. God always pays attention to everything we do. Now that can be a scary thing too, can't it.
What we do each day, even though it may seem mundane, ordinary, even boring, is
important. American statesman Bernard Baruch was asked who he thought was the greatest personality of our age. With great wisdom, at age 94, he said; "The fellow who does his job every day. The mother who has children and gets up to get them breakfast, keep them clean, and send them off to school. The fellow who keeps the streets clean…the unknown soldiers---millions of them." (Our Daily Bread Devotional-Vernon Grounds).
"Sometimes living out the Christian life is to simply live quiet lives of obedience, to embrace our routines, and to glorify God daily in our jobs, relationships, and in the menial day-to-day tasks.". (Kathryn Feliciano, Institute for Faith, works & Economics).
At other times He may have greater work for us to do than we could have imagined.
But, one thing is for sure: No matter what He is calling us to do we can be certain that God will be at work in our life.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the assurance that you are always working in our lives even when we don't acknowledge it. Amen!
***Author's note: Enjoy your week and remember that your work is Kingdom work because God is always involved.