Bible Reading: John 5:16-23
Over the last few days, we’ve tried to lay out a template of what the Bible shows us about the more that God calls us to.
We’ve demonstrated the burden / desire that God expects us to live with for more; we’ve shown how we need to live our lives creating space and opportunity for more, and we’ve also learnt how we must live every day in a huge Holy Spirit-fueled expectation of more.
We’ll explore certain definite steps that God will expect of us as people who are deeply burdened with a Kingdom-driven desire for more.
Today, I pray that the words Jesus spoke would resonate with us and we will see ourselves in that light:
But Jesus answered them, My Father has worked [even] until now, [He has never ceased working; He is still working] and I, too, must be at [divine] work. John 5:17 AMPC
Work is a beautiful part of God’s design! Adam wasn’t put to work after the fall. Work is the privilege we have to give expression to what God has done. Our work is a vital connection to the purpose of God.
I know the world misrepresents it to us, but the truth is that work does not have to come with a burdening and overwhelming tone. God wants you to see and function in the beauty and delight of work.
Laziness is not about personality types or dispositions. It is simply anti-gospel! It does not in any way find space in the life of a follower of Jesus. Don’t justify it or hide it under any cloaks. The purpose of God will not be filled in the laziness of humanity. The Bible is full of stories of very hard workers that refused to take the grace of God as a cloak for laziness.
I am what I am by God’s grace, and God’s grace hasn’t been for nothing. In fact, I have worked harder than all the others—that is, it wasn’t me but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 CEB
We must learn to be totally given to putting our hands in the direction of our hearts.
I’ll share three handles you might love to consider in your work space as you look to grow in your work:
● Strive to work harder: Your growth should be marked by the putting in of more effort as the Holy Spirit enables you. Keep believing for the Lord to strengthen your drive and your hands to do more.
Be a hard worker.
● Strive to work better: Your growth should also be marked by an improvement in the quality of what you do. Don’t just keep doing things at the same level- constantly keep checks on how you can do what you do in a better way. Excellence honours God, and we must constantly be discovering what it looks like in every season and context of our lives
Don’t just be a hard worker. Strive to be an excellent hard worker.
● Strive to work smarter: Your growth should be marked by greater efficiency in your work. I believe that we must be leveraging the wisdom of the Holy Spirit and finding faster and better ways around what we do.
Don’t just be an excellent hard worker. Strive to be an efficient, excellent hard worker!
Listen to Jesus’ words again:
But he said to them, “My Father never stops working, and so I work too.” John 5:17 ERV
Do you realise that your work leaks the genuineness of your relationship with God?
Tolulope Moody
SOMETHING TO PRAY
Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you the grace of a builder and a finisher
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. Zechariah 4:9 NKJV