Arise, shine… —Isaiah 60:1
When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God. There is no point in waiting for God to help us— He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue— a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.
Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery— washing fishermen’s feet. He then says to them, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it. Our Lord takes our human flesh and transforms it, and now every believer’s body has become “the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
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February 19 2015
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord, does this mean that we are to take on work and or service that is not suited to us? That we are to “struggle on” when the work or service goes against our grain? Are we to tackle those jobs and activities that just do not suit us? Chambers says that You will not help us until we take the first step in drudgery? But that hard menial dirty work, is that absolutely necessary to prove our worth and character?
And God says…”Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you need; including your motivation and direction for work. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. The key to this devotional is in the line…” If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.” When you are connected to Me, and operating out of that connection, the Holy Spirit will guide you to and through the work and service you are to do. It is not necessary for you to DO anything except believe on Jesus. You cannot add one sliver of legitimacy to your character by doing things for Me or on my behalf. However, you can transform your work as you give it to Me, and operate out of our connection.”
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