Working to Please God

“Work as if you were serving the LORD, not as if you were serving only men and women.” Ephesians 6:7

What if everyone worked with God in mind? Suppose no one worked to satisfy self or please the bottom line but everyone worked to please God.

Many occupations would instantly cease: drug trafficking, thievery, prostitution, nightclub and casino management. Certain careers, by their nature, cannot please God. These would cease.

Certain behaviors would cease as well. If I’m repairing a car for God, I’m not going to overcharge his children. If I’m painting a wall for God, you think I’m going to use paint thinner?

Imagine if everyone worked for the audience of One. Every nurse, thoughtful. Every officer, careful. Every professor, insightful. Every salesperson, delightful. Every teacher, hopeful. Every lawyer, skillful.

Impossible? Not entirely. All we need is someone to start a worldwide revolution. Might as well be us.


From: Max Lucado

Soar on Wings like Eagles

Dare to Trust (OUR CAPTIVE THOUGHT)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

How frail, weak, and easily influenced our minds are. We can be persuaded to yield to our fallen nature, subtly attracted to fleshly desires, or to things that appeal to our ego or self-gratification. Paul says, Don’t be carried away by your imagination, don’t let your carnal nature run its course, which seeks to exalt, satisfy, and crave those things that will satisfy SELF. Cast down imaginations, turn from the alluring attractions that have but shallow, superficial, earthly values, and no eternal concern. They are deceiving, disarming, and only detrimental to your spiritual journey.

Paul admonishes the Christians at Philippi…“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS!”

WHY? Because the malicious thoughts planted by Satan, exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. They lead us away from that which God wants to do in our life. They are deceptive. If we entertain these thoughts, we open the door, if only a little, to the infiltration of Satan. Soon the ever-so-small opening becomes the means that leads to our despair, discouragement, and defeat.

You might say, “Well, I can handle my thoughts. I am the master of my ship, no one is going to control my thinking.” Paul says, “Wherefore, let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). The basic attack of Satan is to make us think We can handle whatever we encounter in OUR strength. We must realize, we are up against a foe that is greater, wiser, stronger, and more determined than we are, and his chief end is our defeat and destruction!

We must engage our destructive thoughts, imagination, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and CAST THEM DOWN, turn from them, and control our actions by “bringing into captivity [our authoritative control] every thought to the obedience of Christ.” That’s the positive action we need to take. It’s one thing to shun the evil, but another to stand firmly and steadfastly against it. To be “more than a conqueror” is to use the very weapons that were arrayed against you for your own benefit!

How discerning we need to be in this liberal free-thinking world where man thinks, “If it feels good, just do it.” Man puts SELF on the throne where Christ is destined to reign. We are lulled to sleep so often, not realizing that our heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). From the evil promptings of our heart are thoughts that seek to control our attitude and our attitude controls our actions.

Paul challenges every believer to “make captive these thoughts”…bring them under control by the power of the Holy Spirit. Think on those things that are up-lifting. productive, stimulating, positive, encouraging, and glorifying to God. Seek to have “the mind of Christ” in all of our thoughts, so we will walk in obedience to Him.

May this be the desire of our heart…the focus of our life…the object of our spiritual journey…yielded to HIS control so HE may lead us in the “paths of righteousness for HIS name’s sake.”

“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59).


From: Literature Ministries International

Work Hard, Play Hard

It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones. -Psalm 127:2

I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless-like chasing the wind. - Ecclesiastes 1:14

I got my first part-time job when I was seventeen, working for a computer store in the small town where I grew up. The owner of the store was a charismatic man named Scott who was, from my limited teenage perspective, very worldly and well-traveled. He was an intelligent, larger-than-life character with strong opinions about almost everything, so I enjoyed the quiet Saturday afternoons we worked together when we would take a break from the world of computers and he would teach me about how the world really worked. He would typically start his afternoon lesson with a phrase like, "here's something they won't teach you in school" or "let me explain something that almost no one understands".

His favorite lesson, the one I remember most after all these years, was to "work hard and play hard". He explained that most people waste their life by working half-heartedly at menial jobs for eight hours a day and then coming home to nothing more than television and sleep, only to repeat the entire process the next day. Eventually, they wake up and realize they are past the prime of their lives and have not accomplished anything of consequence.

For Scott, this was the epitome of a wasted life. He cautioned me to make every second count and never to waste time on anything that wasn't either hard work or serious leisure. His life consisted of long days with almost no time-off for several months, followed by two weeks in the Caribbean at an all-inclusive resort. Occasionally, he would fly to New York or London or would spend a weekend gambling in Las Vegas, but you would never catch him watching television, going out to a movie or hanging out with friends. For Scott, it was all or nothing. He was either working hard or living the good life. Anything else was waste of time.

His philosophy resonated deep within this impressionable teenager and I vowed that I would live a life just like his. For years, I tried to emulate his style, working long hours, taking one course after another, accepting new contracts until I was inundated, all the while refusing any leisure unless it was expensive and impressive. If I took a break from work, even for a few moments, I could feel internal pressure commanding me back to work. The entire time, I could hear Scott's voice in my head comforting and encouraging me, saying, "No one understands this but us. We are the only ones who are living the good life." Except, I realize now, it was never really Scott's voice, it was the voice of the enemy. It was no life at all.

I don't blame Scott, since he fell into the same trap as I did and he believed the same lies about what life is supposed to be about. Fifteen years later, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I see the "work hard play hard" philosophy for what it really is - a perversion of a deep truth. Every good lie the enemy tells us is effective because it contains some truth, and the truth in Scott's philosophy is that it really is very important that we make our time on earth count. The lie is that a good life has anything to do with fourteen hour work days or luxurious vacations. Living a good life is about service to and relationships with God, our family and our community.

I have seen firsthand how the "work hard, play hard" mentality shatters all kinds of relationships. In practical terms, if you are living your life this way then every second of every day is accounted for. From the moment you wake to the moment you fall asleep, you are working or learning. Everything else is an interruption. When it comes to friends and family, you are inflexible, unavailable and unapproachable. Unless the person is a business associate or is accompanying you on your next vacation, you have no time for them.

How could anyone hope to maintain a marriage or friendship in that environment? How many times do our spouses or children come to us, asking for a little of our time and we send them away because we have important work to do? We tell them that it was not in our plans for today and resent any attempt to alter our agenda. We tell our spouses that we are working hard in order to provide a better life or that we are taking on one more contract to pay for that next getaway. Sure, expensive vacations are nice, but are they really more essential than the occasional dinner with your wife? More valuable than a night out with friends? More precious than holding your new born baby while she sleeps?

Finally, we come to the most devastating aspect of the "work hard, play hard" philosophy - our life in Christ. When we are consumed by that lifestyle, He too becomes just one more interruption and one more obstacle in our way to getting more work accomplished. So many times I told Jesus, "I can't pray right now, I'm studying for my Theology final. I can't read your Word right now, I'm doing some paperwork for the ministry." I never once allowed Jesus to tell me what was important to Him.

In the ultimate act of selfishness and pride, not only do we fail to spend enough time with Him, but we tell Him that our work and leisure are too important to entrust to Him. We are going to control our agenda since we think we can do a better job, all in the hope of living a full and meaningful life.

Truthfully, there can be no full and meaningful life without Christ at the center, nor can we reach our full potential until all things are surrendered to Him. That includes our work and leisure time. I understand the compulsion that drives us to make every second count, but we need to surrender and trust that to God, for He is much more capable of giving meaning to our lives than we ever could ever be. It's extremely important to work hard when it is appropriate to do so, but we must also remain balanced and flexible. We need keep our priorities straight.

If you've struggled with this issue as I have, then take a moment now to invite the Holy Spirit to lead you in overcoming this. Pause and ask Him for guidance whenever you feel pulled in too many directions. Ask for wisdom and clarity whenever you're tempted to tell someone you love that you don't have time for them, especially what that person is Jesus. Finally, let Jesus know that you understand how important it is to find the right balance and that you trust Him completely to help you find the full, meaningful life He intends you to have in Him.


From: Delve Into Jesus

God Always Preserves His Own

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Perhaps today, you are looking at your life and asking, “How did I get here?” Maybe life hasn’t turned out the way you planned. Or maybe you’re enslaved to your past and you wonder, “What do I do now?”

If this describes you or someone you love today, I want to remind you that God always preserves His own. Remember Joseph’s many trials and challenges in the Old Testament? In Genesis 39:2, we read, “The LORD was with Joseph.” Now, remember—Joseph wasn’t preserved from his circumstances. He was preserved in and through his circumstances.

The fact is we can’t change our circumstances. We can’t control what happens to us at all times. But you know what? We can change how we respond to the circumstances of life. And that attitude is what God expects us to work on.

You know, God often allows circumstances and winds to blow against us in order to knock the rough edges off of our lives. Kind of like how sandpaper knocks the rough edges off of wood. God uses the circumstances of our lives in order to polish us and make us more like the Master.

For example, perhaps God had to deal with Joseph’s pride and ego before He could ultimately use him for His glory. So God allowed him to be sold into slavery and sent into Egypt. But remember this: While Joseph left his father back in Canaan, his heavenly Father went with him to Egypt.

If you find yourself in a difficult circumstance that you never imagined or never dreamed of, claim the promise from the Lord found in today’s Scripture: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

When you claim that promise, you can be joyful in any circumstance, knowing that God is protecting you, preserving you, and holding His hand upon you.

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU,
BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTROL HOW YOU RESPOND.


From: Crosswalk Devotionals

False Freedom

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:12 (NRSV)

GROWING up, I had attended church with a frequency that caused a friend of mine to quip, "I always thought your family lived at church." But I stopped going to church while in college because it was an inconvenience. I wanted to sleep in, but mostly I wanted to exercise my newly found freedom from my parents.

Fellowship with God had given me a continuous flow of energy, sustenance, and hope. Why did I turn my back on it? The lifestyle I chose was typical of many young adults, one that encouraged freedom, independence, and self-reliance. I would have been reluctant to admit it, but with each step toward that way of life I distanced myself from God and suppressed the inner workings of the Holy Spirit. At one of my low points I remember remarking to my parents, "God has forgotten me."

When I returned to church eight years ago, it was like coming home. I felt welcomed, not just by the congregation but by God as well. By human reason, I should have been past the point where God offers forgiveness. Yet God reached down in infinite love and grace and rescued me from the ruin I had made on my own. God gave me a new life, one worth waking up to.


Prayer
O God, thank you for showing us the path to true freedom through the life, death, and resurrection of your son. Amen.


From: UpperRoom - Carol P. Nyborg

When Worship Meets Heaven