Work Day Devotions That Work
Unrelenting
Matthew 8:18: Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19: And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20: And Jesus saith unto him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
21: And another of his disciples said unto him, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” 22: But Jesus said unto him, “Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
Excuses
Our human tendency is for excuses. The opportunities of the moment are quickly passed by for the excuses of a lifetime. One wants comforts and a secure destination. Another wants to seal the family fortune and let the past generation find finality. Jesus wanted them that day. Jesus wants those who will go where there is no promise of a comfortable destination. Jesus wants those who will go and let the prior generation either come along or resolve life on their own. Jesus is unrelentingly in motion toward heaven.
Garbage Man
At breakfast one morning a friend looked into the eyes of another friend. Piercingly, he declared, “You are the garbage man!” They had been discussing activities in the community. The one was talking about going into hard places. There he developed and discipled people in this gospel lifestyle. His friend saw a thread. The thread was finding struggling situations and bringing those in them to fruitful fields. The thread was tenacity and insight and time and effort. The thread was taking what others reject and bringing people to full fruit.
Smelly Love
Take what others throw away and apply strong action. Most will avoid it. Jesus embraced it. It is His daily bread and unrelenting task. It meant not having a home at times. It meant not being followed into the hard spots. It meant smelling like a portion of mankind with which friends are unfamiliar.
Unfamiliar Odors
What is not ours and is not familiar looks and smells like garbage. I remember working in nurseries as a young parent. Changing my child’s diaper was easy. Changing the diaper of a friend’s child was horrid. The smell was unfamiliar. At times, I would lean over a trash can in case I could not handle it. My stomach might revolt.
Lift
This month, be a special blessing to some minister. For the most part they are “garbage men”. They take our hurts and pains and help us through to new light and life. They could use a lift this clergy appreciation month.
ACT! Release an excuse that has been keeping you from full commitment to Jesus call on your life. Think about how you would live if you had no financial attachments or no expectations of tomorrow's fortune.
PRAY! Father, I am so weak. My strength is small in the challenge of adversity. Jesus came with no guarantees of comfort or family or home. He thought it not something to be grasped to be resident with You as King of the Universe in heaven. He left throne and comfort to live among men. Help me have His way in me.
To unsubscribe simply reply to this message with the word unsubscribe in your subject line.
No comments:
Post a Comment