Returning from the mission trip to Honduras is always a time of reflection for me. The work that God is doing at the Orphanage Emmanuel is very impression and effective; one of the things that you hear from the leaders at the OE is that they are "doing a work of God, and not a work for God." The difference is that God will sustain and provide for any work that He originates. It is one thing to get busy doing things for God and it is another thing to step into what God has already prepared for you to do. Paul declared in Ephesians 2 that, we are saved by grace, through faith and this is not of ourselves; we are God's workmanship created IN Christ Jesus to do good works which God has prepared for us to do! God has something for each of us. When we listen for the Lord's voice and His leading we can step into works that are ready to order, prepared in advance for us. Jesus said we could build on sand or we could build on the rock. Hearing from God and His word enables us to build on the Rock a lasting and fruitful work. There are so many things to do and so many good ideas and thoughts about what to do for God; the only safe thing to do is go to God Himself and ask Him to lead us into fruitful labor. In John 15 Jesus said: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, no more can ye, unless ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples."
Life can be so hectic and filled with so many choices, the one thing God's people don't need is more and more chores and tasks. I believe one strategy of the enemy is to have us so busy doing good things that we never get around to doing what God has prepared for us. We have so many duties as parents, husbands, wives, and employees, a long with a host of other responsibilites that it can become impossilbe to juggle our daily lives. The one sure way to invite order into our lives is to seek Jesus and His kingdom first and allow what God has for us to become our priority. God will set our entire life together as we put Him and His plans first. Jesus has promised that His sheep hear His voice and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. We all can hear from God as we become intentional in this area. This does not mean that we will not be busy or have many hats to wear and many things to do; but, by doing those things God has prepared for us we are promised His leading, wisdom, strength and peace! I've been around long enough to know that it pays to do things God's way and in His strength. We can do God's work and enter His rest because He becomes our source of strength and vitality; He Himself becomes our portion and guarentees our works will be fruitful. Amen. Brother Brad.
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