Heaven Help Us

Good Morning, Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Arise!  "Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 11:15). Folks, I sense an urgency in my spirit.  God has called each of us to use our God-given talents for His Kingdom. Every Christian should get quiet and pray; listen to the instructions of the Holy Spirit and do what He says.  I think about Mary and Jesus when Jesus changed water into wine. In John 2:1-5, it says, "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His Disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”  This should be our attitude towards our holy calling. “Do whatever He tells you."  Make it happen.  What God has called each of us to do as Christians is a holy calling, a holy vocation.  Don't hesitate; answer the call.  How should I go about starting my holy calling exactly? Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, for God’s Will/Intent to be done, and the Body of Christ arise and fulfill her Mission. Today’s passage directs our attention to the vocation of “working for the Lord”.  This isn’t rhetoric but a firm deliberate directive from God’s Word. We will examine what the Word of God reveals to us about our work. Let our Savior return and find us fulfilling our divine calling on the earth. Let’s begin by exploring the foundational scriptures that instruct us to perform our holy calling; our holy vocation. I.  The Lord’s Vision of Holy Work.  As you review the scriptures in this section, remind yourself our holy calling is precious in the Lord’s sight.  Why?  Because our holy vocation represents a piece of God’s vision of the Body of Christ. What is our holy calling?  Our holy calling is our assignment from the Lord to equip the Body of Christ to evangelize the earth and fulfill God’s Will/Intent on earth.  Please keep in the forefront of your mind, our calling is HOLY.  Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines holy as “devoted entirely to the deity" or "the work of the deity” or “having a divine quality.”  Our holy calling is something we should approach with reverence and great humility.  Give your holy vocation the best of you; your best effort, your best attention/focus, and your best energy. Please read carefully each of the selected passages below to instruct your mind, conscience, and spirit. Remembering from where Jesus rescued us; out of our misery in a darkened world. Let us faithfully use our well-trained attentive ear, allowing each verse to penetrate our being like “a two-edge sword.” Let’s begin. 1. I Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”  In this verse, Paul (who suffered much on account of the Gospel - II Corinthians 11:23-27) declares in I Corinthians 15:10 the true source of power in his ministry.  Pause a moment, even though Paul labored harder than his peers (the other Apostles) in his ministerial efforts; he humbly gives all of the glory to the grace God so richly supplied to him throughout his ministry.  Verse 9 sheds some light into Paul’s perspective, it says, “For I am the least of the Apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.” Christians often make excuses why they can’t do something God calls them to do. (I certainly am guilty of this offense.) I have to remind myself of Romans 11:29 - "for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”  This may or may not apply to individual Christians and it is a doctrinal matter. I plan to live my life as if it does apply to all Christians and not just prophets, patriarchs, etc.  Please seek clarification from your church leaders. We are called by God to use our God-given talents for the Kingdom of God and evangelization of the world. It is by God’s grace that it is possible to complete our assignment. 2. Proverbs 16:2-3 - "All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” 3. I Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 4. Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." 5. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 - "I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” 6. II Corinthians 9:8 - "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 7. Psalm 90:17 - "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” 8. Galatians 6:4-5 - "Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load."  In other words, carry out your assignment in the Body and do not compare yourself to another’s assignment.  All parts are required for the Body of Christ to function. There are no menial tasks in the Body of Christ; there is such thing as "just praying” for example. 9. John 6:27 - “ Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”  Yes, we need food for sustenance but our spiritual food is of great importance for eternal life. 10. Philippians 2:14-15 - “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky…” 11. Titus 2:7-8 - "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” As Paul instructs Titus in appropriate behavior, members the Body of Christ should follow this example. 12. II Peter 1:10 - "Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble…" II. A crucial cornerstone of holy work is diligence. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines diligence as “steady, earnest, and energetic effort: persistent and careful hard work.”  If you are unsure you will be successful in your calling; diligence is the pathway to success. 1. Proverbs 12:24 - “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” 2. Proverbs 21:5 - "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” 3. Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” 4. Proverbs 11:27 - "Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it." III. The daily routine of holy work.  Please review these foundational scriptures highlighting the day to day realities of work in our lives. 1. II John 1:8 - "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” 2. II Timothy 2:15 - "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 3. Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 - "This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God.” 4. I Thessalonians 4:11-12 - "and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 5. Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 6. Proverbs 12:11 - "Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense." 7. I Peter 3:13-14 - "Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 8. Hebrews 6:10 - "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” 9. II Timothy 3:16-17 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 10. John 14:12 - "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in Me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” 11. Hebrews 4:9-10 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.” 12. Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 13. Genesis 2:15 - "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” 14. I Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 15. Ephesians 4:28 - "Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” 16. II Thessalonians 3:10 - "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.” IV. The spiritual warrior completes their holy work.  It is always prudent to know when your journey is completed.  How will I know when I have completed my holy calling? What does success look like?  Consider these verses below. 1. Acts 20:24 - "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” 2. II Timothy 4:7 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 3. Galatians 6:9 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” 4. Philippians 3:14 - "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” This is one of those posts that should excite your senses and studied periodically. Everyone has an assignment, some big and some small, but none insignificant.  Embrace your holy calling and demonstrate the reverence and humility your calling deserves because it is God’s Will and the Body of Christ needs you. Have a blessed day. Peace and be prepared.