Uncomfortable Work

“So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it.” (1 Peter 4:19 MSG)

We had a weekly Bible study in our neighborhood for more than ten years. Then it dissolved, mainly due to some of the members having health issues. I was in charge of organizing the weekly study. When it was thriving, I felt like it was God’s will. However, in the last few years, I sensed that interest had waned as everyone’s schedules got fuller. I didn’t want to be pushy, so I stopped calling people weekly to set it up. I figured that if it was God’s will, He would make it happen.

“Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job.” (1 Peter 4:12 MSG)

Many of us imagine that if we are doing God’s will, everything will go smoothly. In fact, we use this as a measure of how aligned we are with God’s purpose. Sometimes God calls us to do uncomfortable work--challenges that strain our resources, stretch our abilities, and test our resolve. Most likely, we will be less popular than we were when we followed the ways of the world. Accept the discomfort. Some pain is to be expected as we detach from getting our own way to doing things God’s way.

Morning Harvest

“Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood.” (Matthew 10:5-6 MSG)

Harvesting takes time and energy. The crops must be picked, processed, and stored properly. God has sown seeds all around us. These plants have grown and are ready for harvest. Every day, we have the privilege of gathering what God has planted.

I am at my best in the mornings. The house is quiet, my mind is clear and focused, and my energy level is at its highest. Thus, this is the time I commune with God. Through prayer and study, I gather insights. I process everything through writing. I store it up so I can meditate upon it throughout the day. I share it with others who may benefit from it.

You don’t have to go far to reap what God has sown. The spiritual realm is near and accessible to anyone who desires it. You don’t need any special equipment or abilities. BUT, you have to want it. You have to dedicate yourself to the harvest work.

Too Busy to Harvest

“When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. ‘What a huge harvest!’ he said to his disciples. ‘How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!’” (Matthew 9:36-38 MSG)

The growing season is almost over in my garden. Over the last few weeks, I have been too busy to harvest the last of the apples, ground cherries, tomatoes, and peppers. I could make time, but I have allowed myself to be distracted by other things. This has caused so much waste in the garden.

Harvesting is time sensitive. You can’t just do it when you have nothing better to do. The professional farmers around here know this. They put off everything to bring in the harvest on time. Their livelihoods depend on it. Unlike me, they know the seriousness of this task.

“We stay busy at work, while people all around us are ripe and ready to be harvested; we do not reap even one of them, but simply waste our Lord’s time in over-energized activities and programs.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest)

All around us, the seeds that God planted are ripe for harvest. Every circumstance has been used as fertilizer for growth. God’s plans have come to fruition. Let there be no waste. Ask God to equip you to gather, process, and make useful all that He has produced. Pray that He sends others to help you in this immense task.

Abide with Me

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)

Imagine you are a young adult living at home. All your friends have already moved out on their own and are living independently. You are still living under the watchful eyes of your parents, abiding by their rules, helping out with chores around the house, dependent on them for most things. You are frequently tempted to move out--to live the way you want, to do things that your parents would probably disapprove of, to make decisions without their input or influence. You want to be your own person. You want to assert your rights.

It is natural for us to want a life separate from our earthly parents. However, we are not intended to live apart from our Heavenly Father.

Most of us are tempted to strike out on our own. We attempt to operate under our own power, independent of God. We think we can be productive, that we can fight our own battles, and achieve our ambitions.  The more successful we are, the more confident we become of our abilities, the less we rely on anyone else--including God. We may call on Him, once a week on Sunday--mostly as a formality. And then we get back to our independent life where we are lord and master of our domain.

We were created to always abide with our Heavenly Father. We are not meant to live separately, to make our own decisions, or to follow our own agenda.  Anything we produce, apart from God, is worthless. Our Father asks us to remain  in His presence, stay connected at all times, and hold on to Him no matter what. He promises to take care of us, to direct and guide us, and never abandon us.

Lord, may I abide in You and You in me.

Experience of Grace

“My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:24 NLT)

I appreciate those who share their experiences with others. Some people are willing to tell others what they have learned while going through difficult challenges. Others are embarrassed to share details about their times of weakness, their vulnerability, their shame. We all have these experiences-- times when we fell into traps from which we couldn’t extricate ourselves. Sometimes we are swallowed up by the sinkholes of circumstances beyond our control . Other times we are tripped up by our own mistakes or sucked in because of those around us.

I have been in these pits of darkness. Earthly circumstances and personal weaknesses may have been the causes of my fall. However, my unwillingness to depend completely on the Lord was the reason I remained in hopelessness.  BUT GOD, because of  His wonderful generosity, didn’t leave me there. He rescued me from the gutters. He groomed me. He made me presentable and acceptable. And then He gave me an assignment. He wants me to share my experience of Grace.

Have you experienced God’s Grace--the undeserved. unconditional love and acceptance of the Divine? Look back on your life. Do you think that every time you came out of the pit of despair, you did it on your own?  Don’t be naive. Whether you acknowledge it or not, you too have experienced Grace. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to express this wonderful, extravagantly generous grace of God.

__

Divine Discernment

“Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.” (John 7:17 NLT)

Do you feel lost and disoriented? Are you searching for direction, purpose, and meaning? Have you been going down roads that seem promising but lead to nothing?  Are you tired of all this?

Those who follow their own inclinations cannot discern between that which is of God and that which is merely human opinion. Confusion and darkness set in when our wants eclipse HIS will. Our personal ambitions prompt us to figure out our own divergent route.

Divine discernment is granted to those whose primary desire is to please God. The path through God’s sphere of influence is well-lit and clearly marked. When our hearts are aligned with God’s will, when our thoughts and actions reflect His purposes, then we shall have clarity, understanding, and insight.

Lord, may we have the intelligence and discernment to know You personally. May our eyes be focused and clear, so that we can see exactly what it is that You are calling us to do. May we grasp the immensity of your glorious way. Grant us endless energy and boundless strength as we trust in You and live to please You. (Prayer paraphrased from Ephesians 1:18-19 MSG)

Stay Clean

“For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” (Hebrews 10:10 NLT)

I have a special set of silverware that I use for guests. After every use, I hand wash each piece gently and dry them carefully so there are no water spots. Then I put them away in a special tray.  My everyday silverware is not as shiny or spotless. Daily use wears them out. They often get scratched up in the garbage disposal or bent out of shape in the dishwasher. Sometimes these utensils are even used for purposes that they are not meant for--to pry open paint cans, dislodge nails that are stuck in walls, skewer marshmallows over a flame, etc. Because of this, I have instructed my family members not to use the special silverware for their own agenda.  

We are made holy--set apart for God’s purposes. Yet, we are not put away--only to be used for special occasions. God uses us daily. Thus, we may get scratched up, worn out, dull, and rusty. It is nearly impossible to stay clean and lustrous under these conditions. However, we are sanctified through the sacrifice of Jesus once and for all. That means that God has made provisions for us to stay clean and useful on a daily basis. Yet, we must submit to His daily ministrations--allow Him to wash us gently and dry us carefully.

Many of us get dirty and damaged because of worldly entanglements.  We allow ourselves to be used for purposes that are not of God. We must be careful not to get involved in matters outside of God’s will.  Instead, we need to remain holy, set apart, clean, and ready to be of service to God at all times.