November 20, 2007
Do Your Best
"Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart." [Eph 6:6]
This day I have come upon the realization that my job is not just my job. It is really my service to the Lord. So whether I like it or not, whether I have complaints, I ought to be thankful. And I ought to do my best "as unto the Lord" and for His pleasure and glory, not my own.
The motto of the Cub Scouts, which my youngest son has joined this year, is "Do Your Best." It is just as good a motto for adults as it is for children. While I always do my best, I don't always have "the attitude of Christ Jesus", as I know I should. Griping about things in ones workplace, whether valid or not, just makes me miserable. So I am going to be very thankful, especially since this week it is Thanksgiving, and do my best every day, with love.
Love? Why would I do my computer work with love? Love just makes things better. It makes cooking better. I heard about a garbage collector who loved his garbage, his job, and all the people whose garbage he collected, with the result that he was the favorite refuse company in his town, and an encouragement to people with easy, high-paying jobs, not to complain. So LOVE is the "secret ingredient" in a happy life and happy career and a happy family. May God help us to do our best to love our work, love our coworkers, and love our jobs.
Lord, forgive my complaints. Thank you for my job. Bless my coworkers, and help me to do my best, for Your eyes, for the love of Jesus. Amen.
November 12, 2007
A Broken Covenant
Daily Bread on Jeremiah 11:1-23
"`Cursed is the man who does not obey the terms of this covenant---the terms I commanded your forefathers when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.' I said, 'Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God." [3b,4]
God had made a covenant with his people. He expected them to keep it. When they did not, God withdrew his protection from them. He even told the prophet, "Do not pray for this people nor offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress." [14] Instead of living for the glory of God according to his Law, they were all waging a conspiracy against God. [9]
Naturally when Jeremiah warned them of God's punishment for their sins they also plotted to kill him. But God was going to protect Jeremiah.
We have to be bold in proclaiming God's word to this generation, which is also full of conspiracies and oppression of the poor. May God give us strength to stand up for God, as Jeremiah, even if there is no hope of reforming or saving our people. God will take care of us and will call out his remnant. But those who resist us will be utterly ruined.