It was quoted to me many years ago by a former Pastor, Tom Raney:
- Never allow your service for God to become a substitute for your relationship with Him.
I don't even know if that was his own quote or someone else's (sounds like something that Oswald Chambers might have said) but it has had a profound influence upon my life for a long time. I have never forgotten it and I've shared it with many over the years.
It reminds me of how easy it is to fall into that trap of just - doing, doing, doing for God and neglecting the personal time with Him that He so desires (as well we should too).
As Believer's in Christ, many times our mind-set is to "work for the Lord" but God tells us over and over in His Word that if we will trust HIM - HE will work for us in ministry and in our personal lives. I don't know about you but that is profound - and it takes the burden off our "doing"- when God is the One doing the work.
- Hebrews 13:20-21
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. [emphesis mine]
He will equip us - He will work in us!
- John 6:9
"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?" [emphesis mine]
We all know the end result of this passage... 5000 + people were fed... all because of placing his faith in "anointed hands" (Jesus' hands). But who did the work? Not the boy - not the disciples - GOD did!
How hard are you and I working for the Lord these days? Maybe it's time to let Him carry the load that was intended for Him. That would give us more time to spend working on our relationship with Him. ...Just a thought!
Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
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