I love you enough Lord to Work for you! In this Season, I love you enough not to let you!
What would it be like for God to tell you, “No” as it relates to your service? Some could not fathom being told to sit down. Many have experienced churches asking while the ink is still wet on the Membership Roster, “Where would you like to serve in the ministry?” Can you imagine asking a newborn baby to get behind the wheel of a chartered bus carrying 50 people? Yes, servitude and language is already in the baby, but they must be cultivated and instructed for that specific duty to come forth.
An infant would not know the language or instructions to properly lead and transport the 50 people! How much more should new converts in Christ be discipled?
Disciple- – properly, a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle required; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through life-applications. -Strong’s Concordance
Pause for the Cause: As a Lover of Words, “catechized” got my attention!
Catechize- instruct (someone) in the principles of Christian religion by means of question and answer
Esther went through a year long purification process before meeting with the king. God’s love towards us is shown in Him not being anxious to put us to work before the revelation of who we submit our life to is realized.
In the natural, my profession is in Sales, and I perform my duties at a higher efficiency by knowing the Company and product. Again, how much more is required to exercise good works for the Sovereign God? Imagine carrying out tasks for God with the World’s Manual and not the Bible. We would function from an ill-informed and lower nature manner.
Imagine how we would greet a non-cooperative guest at the door; imagine how we would treat our pew neighbor with a busy body child; imagine how we would treat a Sister who appears to have a unsightly disposition, but is really struggling with insecurity and hurt from a previous church- if we did not take the time to sit and learn of Him! Discipleship will never be a 4 week course; it is this cumulative experience that continues to be added on to, as we mature in Christ.
Ponder this, have you ever told or considered telling your Pastor that you need to sit for a moment to assess and do some necessary heart maintenance? Would it even cross your mind to stop serving? Getting things right with God is never deemed as wasted time. Yes, He is the Redeemer and Restorer of Time. However, our focus truly has to get to the place…”Lord, if it cost me 10 years to be perfected in [this] it is worth it because I never want to work on your behalf and not represent you with “clean hands and a pure heart.”
The Elephant in the Room when it comes to “working for the Lord” is when our hearts have not been regenerated- it will cause us to busy ourselves with works and turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit’s attempt to “lead us into all truth.” It is a Move of the Enemy to get us caught up in altruistic acts, that are absent of the anointing!
Sober Truth: There are times where a choice is made to focus more on service, so we are not painstakingly truthful with where we are and where we really should be. Remember, God is not in need of us. On the contrary, we are greatly in need of Him. Acts 6:3 says, “Therefore brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom. Check out those credentials to pass out food! No work as a representative of Christ is insignificant or absent of the Holy Spirit! From the Parking Attendant to the Childcare Provider to the Usher to the Pastor- they all require His approval because if not, we’ll operate from the World’s Manual and not the Creators!
Divine Design Work & Pray:
Work: Jot down in your journal, the thoughts you had about this blog title and content. Were you reared to work first and then learn of Him? Do you feel pressure to work in the church more than your desire to be approved by God to work on His behalf?
Pray: Great Jehovah, it is a joy to do anything for you because of what you have done for me, but let not my works be greater than my surrendered life and Yes to Your Will and Way! To say that I owe you everything is an understatement. To move in obedience and holiness is my statement back to you! Great is your faithfulness towards me. May the honor of sitting like Mary make me know how to respond in situations that are presented with the frustration of Martha. Keep my heart forever slanted towards the needful thing. As I work for You; may I always have an answer for the hope that is within me. In the Name that is above every other Name, in Jesus Name, I pray. Amen.
