Beware of any work for God that causes or allows you to avoid concentrating on Him. A great number of Christian workers worship their work. The only concern of Christian workers should be their concentration on God. This will mean that all the other boundaries of life, whether they are mental, moral, or spiritual limits, are completely free with the freedom God gives His child; that is, a worshiping child, not a wayward one. A worker who lacks this serious controlling emphasis of concentration on God is apt to become overly burdened by his work. He is a slave to his own limits, having no freedom of his body, mind, or spirit. Consequently, he becomes burned out and defeated. There is no freedom and no delight in life at all. His nerves, mind, and heart are so overwhelmed that God’s blessing cannot rest on him.

But the opposite case is equally true–once our concentration is on God, all the limits of our life are free and under the control and mastery of God alone. There is no longer any responsibility on you for the work. The only responsibility you have is to stay in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him. The freedom that comes after sanctification is the freedom of a child, and the things that used to hold your life down are gone. But be careful to remember that you have been freed for only one thing–to be absolutely devoted to your co-Worker.

We have no right to decide where we should be placed, or to have preconceived ideas as to what God is preparing us to do. God engineers everything; and wherever He places us, our one supreme goal should be to pour out our lives in wholehearted devotion to Him in that particular work. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might . . .” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

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April 23, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

The song and devotional point me once again to the notion of…keeping the main thing….. well,  …the main thing. It is amazing that even in the dark we can see the light when we are connected and focused on Jesus.  I can be engaged in Christian work, or family work, even missionary or pastoral work and find constant fatigue and disappointment whenever I am driving or directing the work. Thank you Lord for reminding me that all our work belongs to You and that whenever You lead and direct me, the circumstances, resources and or obstacles have no meaning or impact. The main thing is staying connected to You….when I do that…. the work will have meaning even though I may know the meaning.

And God says…”I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Seek first the Kingdom of God….wait upon the Lord, acknowledge Me in all your ways and I will make your paths straight. I am the vine you are the branches, stay connected to Me because apart from Me you can accomplish nothing that will hold any significance in this world or the next. …..Even when you do not know what work it is that you should do. Especially when you do not know what work you should do…..focus on Me and I will direct you. And you can leave the end result to Me.”