“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col 3:23-24 NIV)

“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Cor 10:31 NIV)

How often do we truly do our daily work “as working for the Lord”? Do we really put all of our heart in doing our best at work, knowing that we are serving our Lord? Or are we more consumed by our daily tedious work that seems to go nowhere?

But then, do we do any better when we take responsibilities at church or with an online ministry? Some sign up as if they were signing a death warrant; others are so excited that they can’t wait to serve the Lord with all of their heart, all of their soul and all of their being. Why the difference? Is it possible that some of us get lost somewhere along the way, that we veer off the straight and narrow path? We seem to want to do the right thing, but our heart isn’t always in it.

Sadly as soon as adversity hits, many give up their ministry to the Lord, not realizing that He, Himself, is what they need to sustain them! After all, who do we serve if we give up each time trouble arises? What message are we proclaiming to those around us?

God is at work all around us. Why are we so reluctant to join Him in His endeavours? We can see Him everywhere, in our neighbourhood, at our workplace, even while shopping for groceries or when we do our daily exercise. He is even active on the Internet, over the phone, etc. Jesus knew Him so intimately that He had no problems joining Him.

“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” (John 5:19-20 NIV)

And this is what a church in the Middle East did. All over this region, many Muslims experience unusual dreams of “The man in White”. This church decided to join in where God was obviously at work. They published an ad in the newspaper saying: “If You’ve seen the Man in White in your dreams, call this number.” You know what? Their phone has not stopped ringing!

It is time we stop moping and start letting God make us shine the way we should be shining. How many opportunities are lost because we focus on problems instead of on the Answer? Are you depressed? Reach out to others! Lost your job? Shine instead of letting circumstances overwhelm you. Ill? Share your personal testimony with others. I can assure you God will never abandon you!

In our next devotional we will meet people who rose above their adversity and by doing so they have learned to shine and work with God, an experience they continue to hunger after.

Do you hunger for God?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Only in Jesus” devotional series, please click here.)