Not Guilty Work Day

Luke 6: Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grain fields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. ² And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

³ But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: ⁴ how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” ⁵ And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

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Working until 3 in the morning was definitely a great excuse for missing church. I was a teen working at a bowling alley. By the time I got home, it was 3:20 AM. I slept until late afternoon.

• There were times when I did not think much of the Sabbath because I worked.
• There were times when my schedule did not include going to church.
• There were times when I slept through going to church because it was a lower priority to making money.

The Pharisees tried to blame JESUS and HIS disciples for breaking GOD’s law, not believing JESUS was and is GOD. They walked around observing the disciples, trying to catch them doing something wrong instead of teaching the Bible from a loving perspective. JESUS surprised them with HIS reply.

• JESUS wants me to take a day to rest and worship HIM.
• JESUS wants me to seek learning from HIM on a regular basis.
• JESUS wants me to know there are some harsh leaders who do not observe the Sabbath, so I may need to be flexible and worship HIM on purpose during other times.

Following JESUS will be met with worldly opposition. Schedules, problems and ailments can sometimes get in the way of my dedication to follow the law to the letter. JESUS says HE is the GOD of the Sabbath and understands my dilemma. HE still wants me to rest, follow and serve HIM, but is flexible because HE is the reason for the Sabbath.

• Are you feeling guilty because you have to work instead of worshipping?
• Do you blame people for working on the Sabbath like the Pharisees?
• Can you follow the heart of JESUS and rest and worship while being flexible to HIS plan for you which may include barriers to your desired worship day?

Exhausted Trying to Please

Micah 6: ⁸ He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

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Figuring out what the boss wanted was a puzzle and I was losing sleep. I would wake up in the middle of the night thinking about work so I would jump out of bed, labor for a couple of hours then fall asleep for the remaining fifteen or twenty minutes before the alarm. I would then try to present my work only to be brushed off to do more laborious tasks. “What does he want?” I would exclaim!

• Sometimes I get exhausted trying to please others.
• Sometimes I get weary trying to guess at what others want from me.
• Sometimes I get fatigued trying so hard to get things right that I lose sleep and feel even more tired!

“What do YOU want from me?” is an expression I have also used on GOD. I mean when I wasn’t getting my way I would try to do what GOD wanted me to do in a measured way. I would pray more, give more and show up to church more. I would even reduce my sins for good measure.

Then when I did not get my way, I would tell the LORD the list of things I had done so HE could eventually relent on holding back from my long past due rewards. I would then ask again “What do YOU want from me?”

• GOD says to me “I want you to act justly to MY people.”
• GOD says to me “I want you to love the mercy I have shown you.”
• GOD says to me “I want you to walk humbly with ME, your GOD.”

CHRIST walked the earth showing me how life really should be done. HE set the example by showing even HIS enemy’s compassion. HE expressed HIS unfailing love in an extreme gentle way. The problem is sometimes the things I want may not be part of HIS plans. In fact they may conflict with HIM.

Any time I am anxious, nervous and afraid I must ask myself “Am I fighting GOD or serving HIM? GOD is not hard to please. HE was so pleased that HE became a human to die in my place. HE simply wants me to look at HIS example and follow them daily. That’s all.

• Are you exhausted trying to please others?
• Are you exhausted trying to please GOD?
• Can you stop “trying” so hard and just “be” the person GOD wants you to be?
• Will you stop downing yourself and others around you so you can add praise back into your life?

What is the Purpose?

Ecclesiastes 2: ²⁴ A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, ²⁵ for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

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One day I got home after working thirty six hours straight. Yes I stayed awake and worked straight. I finished the work with no commendation, no accolade and quite honestly no appreciation. We did not get the contract and all the work was done in vain.

• Sometimes I think I can make this planet a utopia.
• Sometimes I think I can affect my environment to make it a better place.
• Sometimes I think I can work hard enough to make “it” happen, whatever “it” is.

I was very disappointed with that company so I moved on only to find the next company had its own issues. I finally stopped chasing the rainbow.

• GOD told me to “Do your work as unto the LORD.”
• GOD said to me “Your labor will not be in vain.”
• GOD spoke to me and said “Take MY yoke upon you and learn of ME for my yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

I stopped trying to please bosses and peers and people around me and started pleasing GOD when I did my work. When the boss ranted that “it” wasn’t don’t to his or her liking, I simply asked GOD “How should I handle this” and HE would provide me with a peaceful answer. Soon I found myself working with peace instead of strife. I had a smile on my face daily.

My work became excellent because I wanted to give GOD sacrificial work. I do not need accolades from humans, GOD’s rewards are plenty!

• Are you working hard and getting no satisfaction?
• Have you been passed over one too many times?
• Will you work for GOD instead of working for humans?
• Will you allow GOD to change their heart instead of you trying to?

Periods of Rest

1 Chronicles 23: ²⁵ For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, ²⁶ the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.” 

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With the crowd getting larger, it seemed like this place needed more organization. I implemented some software that would keep track of tithes, offerings and money for the building. Each Sunday I would park myself in the office and half way listen to the sermon on a speaker in the office.

Questions about administration soon led me to take work from the church home. I was the head of the deacons, head of the trustees, head of administration and headed towards going nuts. Is this what GOD had in mind?

• Sometimes I get overloaded.
• Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.
• Sometimes I work to the point of exhaustion.

Volunteering is a wonderful thing but sometimes the volunteer activity needs to be scaled back to have moment of rest. GOD wants me to focus on HIM when HE calls me, but HE loves me so much that HE wants me to have rest.

• GOD said to me “Come unto me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD said to me “I lead you beside still waters.”
• GOD said to me “Stand still and watch the power of the LORD.”

When I find myself trying too hard to please GOD it usually stems from fear or worry or doubt that HE is with me. It also means I really, really want something that GOD may have said “No” or “Wait” to. Don’t get me wrong… GOD wants me to be persistent an persevere in the battle of life, BUT HE also wants me to have periods of rest.

GOD cares for me so HE wants me to take a moment for myself so I will not get burnt out!

• Are you working hard to please GOD?
• Do you think HE is not pleased with you for some reason?
• Can you stop thinking HE is a hard task master and allow yourself to take a break once in a while?
• Can you look at service to the LORD as smaller periods of work AND rest?

At least make an effort

Leviticus 10: ⁴⁴ “‘I am the Lord your God. Set yourselves apart. Be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves “unclean” by eating any creatures that move around on the ground. ⁴⁵ I am the Lord. I brought you up out of Egypt to be your God. So be holy, because I am holy.

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There is absolutely no way for me to make myself holy! My very birth was sinful so every action I have, will have a sinful motive. CHRIST took my eternal punishment away and I believe this fact. I break HIS rules daily but I am Holy because HE is Holy! 

It’s as simple as one two

1 John 3: ²¹ Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God

²² and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. ²³ And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴ The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

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“Could you be in this city at this time?” was the question by my company. “Can you serve?” was another question by another group. Another group asked “Can you give a little more?” Then temptations came rushing at me from all sides. I was trying to read the Bible but it seemed like there were too many rules.

This “Christian” life is too difficult! I mean I just want to “be me” but everyone else keeps taking a piece of me!

• Sometimes I mistake serving for following GOD.
• Sometimes I mistakenly think I can actually act righteous so if I avoid temptations I’m following GOD better.
• Sometimes I mistake activity and giving as the only way to serve GOD even if I am thoroughly reluctant to do HIS work.

There are times where I try to manipulate GOD to get my way.  I mean my service is a feeble attempt to erase some sin and maybe, just maybe GOD will see what I’m doing and not whack me over the head. Every time I serve with reluctance I burn out quickly and cause more damage than good. How in the world can I please GOD with all those rules!?

• GOD said “MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”
• GOD said “It is finished” meaning “I have taken care of EVERYTHING.”
• GOD said “Believe in the ONE who rescued you by dying in your place, that HE is GOD and loves you.”
• GOD said “Love one another.”

In other words step 1: Believe and love GOD the FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT and step 2: Love one another. That’s it. But that sounds too simple, there has to be more. I mean pastors, preachers and priests keep telling me to do more. Well, there is always a need but GOD says “Relax, “be you” for a moment and MY love will pour out of you to many.”

• Are you trying too hard to please GOD?
• Are you trying to manipulate HIM to get your way?
• Won’t you simplify your life by serving others the way HE wants you to?
• Can you stop feeling burnt out and love the people GOD has delivered to you?

How to be rich and pleasing to GOD

1 Timothy 6: ¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

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Looking at my watch I realized I was ahead of schedule. The bus to the rental car was just about to pull off and I was the only one who made it. “Those poor saps” I thought to myself. Flying in first class had paid off!

Since I rented cars so often mine was in the front row with the keys in it ready to go. I drove twenty feet only to get in an exit line. “C’mon, I haven’t got all day” I thought to myself. Since I spent an extra five minutes in line I made it up on the freeway. “Get out of the way” was my attitude. I wonder who I saw on that trip.

• Wealth can make me arrogant.
• Wealth can stir up my impatience.
• Wealth can muster up my selfishness.
• Wealth can drive my desire to focus on me.

Clearly there is nothing wrong with being wealthy but it is wrong to have an attitude with my wealth. When I think nothing can go wrong because of the wealth I have amassed then I am gravely mistaken. Also, when I forget the reason GOD made me wealthy in the first place then I quickly focus on being “self-made” rather than having an attitude of thanksgiving.

• Generosity takes practice and it starts when I have little.
• Willingness to share must remain whether I have much or little.
• Doing good deeds should be the focus on my wealth rather than getting wealthier and protecting it.

Investments and retirement are nice but GOD wants me to lay up treasure in heaven. In other words HE doesn’t want me to work “for” my salvation, HE wants me to work “because of” my salvation. HE wants me to seek out those who may have lost their way and point to HIS love no matter how wealthy I get.

• Are you seeking wealth and power?
• Can you be generous with your wealth right now even before you get wealthier?
• Are you willing to share what little you have?
• Can you do a good deed for the sole purpose of serving the living GOD?

Keeping in step with the SPIRIT

Galatians 5: ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 24 25 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

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“This party is off the charts!” someone said to me. Yes I said charts. We had the right combination, good music, silly people, drunkenness and lots of women! After a pretty “fun” night, the next morning I slugged to the cafeteria. A person was there trying to persuade me to go to church. “Who are they?” I said to myself.

I believe in JESUS already.  I’m just having “fun.”

• When I do what I want I get out of step with GOD.
• When I ignore GOD I lose my direction.
• When I lose my direction I feel hopeless.

After my “fun” I always seemed to have a sense of loss as if I had an opportunity to please GOD and I let HIM down. Yes I know “once saved always saved” but it seems like there is more to life than just being “forgiven by GOD.”

• GOD placed HIS SPIRIT in me to bear the fruit of love, joy and peace to show others HE cares.
• GOD placed HIS SPIRIT in me to bear the fruit of forbearance, kindness and goodness to show others HE desires a relationship with anyone who wants HIM.
• GOD placed HIS SPIRIT in me to bear the fruit of gentleness and self-control to help others when they are down.

When I am out of step with GOD I don’t feel very fruitful.  I feel like running and hiding, which doesn’t help anyone. GOD wants me to bear fruit.  HE wants me to remain “in step” with the SPIRIT. HE shows me HIS fruitful attributes and desires that I do the same. The more “fruit” I add to my diet the more “fruit” I will bear.

• Are you bearing fruit?
• Do you feel your lifestyle is drawing people to CHRIST or repelling them?
• Can you add one or more items of SPIRITUAL fruit to your actions today?

Please GOD as often as you can.

Romans 8: ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

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Women with tight low cut dresses were everywhere. The music was jamming and there was a lot of laughter. As I sat down, I found myself surrounded by women. “This is the church for me, It’s better than a club!” I thought to myself.  I have no idea what the pastor preached.

• When I live in lust I cannot please GOD.
• When I am driven by my desires I cannot please GOD.
• When I treat GOD as common as anything else I cannot please HIM.

I am glad the HOLY SPIRIT intervened then as HE does now.  Choices of lust and greed and power and you name it pop up and I say come on in! I would choose the wrong thing every time and the HOLY SPIRIT jumps in and says, “Don’t go there” or “Make peace” or “Serve” or “Tell them about GOD’s SON.”

• Now that I have the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, I have a choice not to sin rather than a destiny to death.
• Now that I have the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, I will still sin but sin is no longer the destination rather it’s a detour.
• Now that I have the HOLY SPIRIT inside me, I have a choice to please GOD.

GOD understands when and why I sin. HIS grace is sufficient to save me and protect me from harm so there is nothing I have to do but believe in HIM. But when I reach towards HIM amazing things happen. GOD sees me, in my sinful way, trying to please HIM and is delighted by even the smallest task I do out of love for HIM.

If I gave someone a cup of water just because of JESUS, the FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT gets excited! The HOLY SPIRIT leads me away from sin more and more while pointing me to GOD.

• Are you trying to please GOD while living any old way?
• Do you feel stuck because you don’t know how to stop doing what you are doing?
• Have you tried replacing what you are doing with serving others a little at a time?
• Can you understand that trying to be sinless does not get you a closer relationship with GOD because HE already gave the HOLY SPIRIT to those who believe?

How can I hear GOD?

Acts 13: ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

 

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“Man, the women are going to be premium!” a coworker said to me. I had never been to a strip club before so I said “sure, why not?” It had been years since I went to church and I was fresh out of college. Then I heard “that” voice say to me “Don’t go in there.”

 

Of course I quickly ignored the voice because I didn’t want to look like a punk and I wanted to see what I was going to see. After seeing the sad scene of married men ogling over women who really seemed miserable I heard “that” voice again. “Leave and don’t come back.” Okay, this time I better listen.

• GOD speaks to me all the time I just refuse to listen.
• GOD speaks to me all the time I simply ignore HIM to get my way.
• GOD speaks to me all the time I just don’t want to hear what HE has to say.

When the HOLY SPIRIT was placed inside me because I believed JESUS took my punishment in my stead, I now had a leader who speaks softly but firmly. The HOLY SPIRIT tells me exactly what to do and what not to do. All I need to do is listen.

• When I listen to the HOLY SPIRIT I show grace when it’s clearly the other person’s fault.
• When I listen to the HOLY SPIRIT I pray for the person who doesn’t deserve prayer.
• When I listen to the HOLY SPIRIT I step away from the sin I am about to commit.
• When I listen to the HOLY SPIRIT I serve people out of love not obligation.

Fasting doesn’t make me any holier than anyone else only hungrier, but when I fast, my hunger reminds me to listen to the HOLY SPIRIT. Prayer doesn’t change GOD’s mind, but when I pray I can hear the HOLY SPIRIT calming me down and taking charge of the situation. Praising GOD doesn’t take my problems away, but when I praise HIM, the HOLY SPIRIT clears my thoughts to face each problem head on!

 

The HOLY SPIRIT reminds me that GOD is so much more powerful than any person, any situation or any sin I have committed. HE is my guide to whom I need to seek and listen to.

• Can you hear GOD?
• What is HE saying to you?
• Have you tuned HIM out to get your way?
• Do you believe HE can use your broken body for some marvelous works?
• What are you doing to “seek” GOD today?

Trying too hard to please GOD

John 15: ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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Recalling my past sins seemed to fuel my drive to please GOD. I remember going to church early in the morning and leaving in the evening exhausted because I had volunteered for everything. From trustee chair to janitor, this church was not going to fail. I wonder what my family thought about that.

• I should not seek “acceptance” that I already have from GOD.
• I should not assume that my sin controls GOD’s actions.
• I should not believe GOD is disappointed with me so I may as well sin.

It’s amazing how complicated I think it is to follow GOD and HIS ways. I dream up this false belief that when things are going well for me HE is pleased with me and when things seem bleak, HE must be punishing me for my sins. I try to get back on the straight and narrow but I fail over and over. How discouraging!

• GOD says “Come to ME with your heavy hearts and learn of ME for MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”
• GOD says “I want peace and joy to overfill your hearts.”
• GOD says “Remain in ME and let my words guide every part of your life, then you will bear fruit.”

GOD has already packaged my life nicely.  HE doesn’t just let it be mundane and without problems, rather HE placed HIS words in me and allows me to go through the adventure of life. HE enables me to bear fruit in spite of my sins, trials and troubles. I don’t have to force GOD to love me because HE has already shown HIS love by dying for me.

• Do you think GOD is not pleased with you?
• Do you have the false notion that you can be good enough to make HIM pleased?
• Can you believe HE loves you, especially with your flaws?
• Will you take a moment to share with someone how GOD loves you in spite of your flaws?