A Word for Workers

As VBS week approaches, I have been thinking more about the WORK of the Christian life. Sometimes it can feel tedious and even, at times, like we're spinning our wheels in vain. But God gently reminded me today that our MOTIVATION is what makes the difference between legalistic, duty-based efforts versus grace-soaked, heartfelt service.

"I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. THEREFORE(my emphasis), my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ESV)

Notice the "therefore." Why do we work? Why is it that our labor is not in vain?

Because of the victory that Jesus has given us over death!
Because our sins cannot curse us to hell anymore.
Because death was swallowed up by His death.
Because death has lost it's venom to poison our souls.
Because the law is powerless to condemn us through Jesus.
Because we will receive knew everlasting, never-decaying bodies.
Because in Christ we will inherit the kingdom.
Because He loved us enough to give us this good news.
Because other people need this good news just like we did.
Because we have every reason in the world to work til He comes back.

Stay motivated, fellow workers! In the midst of the planning, decorating, shopping, singing, jumping, shouting, corralling, and, yes, even going a little crazy at times, make time to stay in the Word and remember the "why" behind your work. It is not in vain. You are appreciated. You are loved more than you know. You are part of something much bigger than you understand. You are blessed.

Awake my soul

There is a healthy craving to be had; a desire for nourishment to the soul.
Apart from God my taste buds dead; their pleasure in the foul.

One satisfying addiction exists to quench my thirsty heart;
of all that looks and feels and smells, faith grasps beyond its realm.

A safe obsession to hold my gaze, no danger in His care;
for He causes all things to work in harmony for my good.

Now good may seem a far-off thought when doubts and pains arise;
but the good He brings is good because He makes me like His Son.

Change this heart of stone, I cried; turn it into fleshy clay.
He heard and listened and came and bought and redeemed and restored and won.

One spark can hold a match to my eternal flame; the deepest longings of my soul fanned by His great Name.
Everywhere I try to look for fuel to satisfy; He gently prods the embers of grief to remind me of His love.

He can handle what I desire and all that I can fathom; He is a cistern that never runs dry despite my constant yearning.
To find the only true desire and feel the joy of abandon; there my soul feels the freedom it was made to encounter.

Oh joy of man's desiring, I find my rest in thee; and treasure every longing sense that begs me to return.
For in the moments of despair, then I know you're here; not to tempt and taunt and hurt, but awaken my heart to glory.

I was wrong

Faith.

For so long I got it wrong.  For so long I thought I didn't believe enough and that's why I wasn't getting what I wanted.  For so long I was a miserable Christian, feeling like I didn't measure up because my life wasn't turning out the way I had envisioned and that if I just could muster enough faith, God would grant me my wishes.  In my mind, God was the all-powerful, gracious genie who existed to serve me and make me happy.

And then finally when my faith was disappointed one too many times and when I was so unhappy and dissatisfied with my life that I thought maybe he didn't exist at all, I decide it:  maybe I was just concocting this idea of God in my mind and if I stopped thinking about Him and going to church and trying to read the Bible and live a "holy" life, God would cease to exist.  This "genie-God" who had failed to come through for me so many times would simply leave me alone and allow me to find something else to make me happy; something that would give me the freedom I longed for and the satisfaction of soul that let me rest from the constant craving of more...something...anything...

And I stopped.

Caring, believing, hoping, seeking, loving.  Genie-god died and I simply survived.  Life took some very drastic, fast, and furious turns towards chaos and one day I stopped again.  I noticed that I was one foot in the pit, one foot in the grave.  One more step and I would be gone and there would be no turning back.

And that's when He came.

In all His overwhelming love and senseless grace and pulled me up onto solid ground.  He gave me a new name and a new heart and a new song.

He showed me that faith is believing in His goodness, trustworthiness, righteousness, lovingkindness, mercy; believing in His character to come through in the good times and the bad; trusting in Him because you KNOW Him and He KNOWS you.  You can't have faith in someone you don't know...it would be stupid to place your life in the hands of a stranger.  Jesus is a person.  To have faith in Him is to know Him and believe that He is who He says He is and that He is true to His Word and that NO MATTER WHAT, He is still good.

When circumstances around me seem to point to His not loving me, I don't buy it because I know He died for me and so He will graciously give me all things (Rom. 8:32).  When my emotions betray me and make me feel abandoned by Him, I reject that and cling to His promise to be with me always, even to the very end of the age (Matt. 28:20).

Faith is NOT asking and hoping that He will grant my desires.

Faith IS believing He is my desire.

Faith is the blessed assurance of what is to come.  It is the conviction of the reality of Him and everything He has promised. (Heb.11:1).

Faith is our lifeline to the Faithful One (2 Tim. 2:13).