Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd
of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us
down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with
endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1
Could you imagine trying to
run a race carrying a pile of trash, some dirty laundry, your old smelly
sneakers, and nothing on your feet? You would both look and perform horrible.
That is pretty much what we
are doing before we realize that Christ has been standing there all our lives
waiting to take all that off of us and put on new clothes, sneakers to sprint
with, and take away all of the trash we are carrying around that makes us
smelly.
Look He even gives us an armor to dress us up in finery that will protect us and keep us strong!
All we need to do is let go
of the junk and accept that He wants to take care of us. It’s okay to be needy
when the person you need is Christ Jesus!
Sometimes we don’t know
when to let things go though and we hang on to our poverty like it were a prize
because we think we can get things without doing anything for them.
Take
a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering
food for the winter. Proverbs
6:6-8
If
we go along in life thinking everything will be given to us , or that we will
get a cut rate on something for doing nothing at all for it we will fail to do
what God has planned for us.
He
does not want us to be lazy, or expecting to get something for nothing; he
tells us to work hard.
Even
in Jesus’ parables he discusses how the hard workers who at least invested the
finances in ways to increase the money
that was given to them in order to benefit others as well as themselves were
the ones who got the most in return.
The
people in life who gain the most financially are the ones who work for it, the
people in live who grow the most spiritually are the ones who put the most into
learning the Bible, God’s Word, and
walking in the ways that He shows us to walk in His Word!
Which
one will you be?
But
if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates ?
Joshua 24:15
If
you do not do the work He puts before you , whatever that is, you should not
expect the blessings He provides. I am not saying you won’t be saved if you do
not work, I am saying in this life if you work hard for the Lord’s good then
you will find blessings. You will find joy unspeakable; you will find life to
the full! Sure it is not always easy to
do what the Lord has chosen for you to do. Preachers, Teachers and Evangelists
can all attest to the fact that they get tired some times and have a hard time
standing before you to lead the sheep. Sometimes they may even want to quit
trying, but God has ordained them to lead the sheep and so they dig in, get on
their knees and plead their cause to God who adds to their strength, their hope
and their desire the things that He wants them to do.
He
will do the same for each of us, when we step out in faith and grab a hold of
the rope He has dangling to us to pull us up to the next level, no matter how
hard it may look to scale the wall; God will pull us up and plant us where He
wants us to work.
The
joy He gives us will make us stronger in our resolve to work the work He has
given us to do, just like Paul. Paul suffered in prison, as did Peter but that
did not stop them they continued to share the Gospel Message.
We
need to seek God find out what He wants us to do and gear up to do it!
Ask
Him to remove the things hindering you from doing the work He has called you to
do. Then walk in it! Gear up by
studying, learning, and then doing the will of God over the will of your self.
Dear
heavenly Father, help us to follow Your directions and do the work you have given us to do, no
matter how hard it is to accept the calling you give You will be there for us
and You will guide us through it. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear to know
what You plan for us today, In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested reading: Joshua 24:1-28, Hebrews
12:1-29, Hebrews 13:1-25 Proverbs 6:1-36