Week 35: The Little Things Matter

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

*Sunday: Job 16:1-19:29; 1 Corinthians 16:1-24; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 22:1
*Monday: Job 20:1-22:30; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Psalm 40:11-17; Proverbs 22:2-4
*Tuesday: Job 23:1-27:23; 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11; Psalm 41:1-13; Proverbs 22:5-6
*Wednesday: Job 28:1-30:31; 2 Corinthians 2:12-17; Psalm 42:1-11; Proverbs 22:7
*Thursday: Job 31:1-33:33; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Psalm 43:1-5; Proverbs 22:8-9
*Friday: Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 22:10-12
*Saturday: Job 37:1-39:30; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10; Psalm 44:9-26; Proverbs 22:13

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58
"So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless."

I am in Seoul, South Korea as I write this and it is actually Sunday morning here. Back in Sherwood the time is 3:50 pm, Saturday, August 24th. Here is it 7:50 am, Sunday, August 25th. I lost a day when I flew to Korea. I left on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 pm and 10 hours later arrived on Wednesday night at 6:00 pm. But I will recapture lost time when I return. I leave for home next Saturday at 5:00 pm and, after an 11-hour trip, I will arrive in San Francisco five hours earlier than when I left!

All that to say...this is really messing with my quiet times! Today for me is yesterday for you! So my reflection today (Sunday) is drawn from the Scripture readings from your today (Saturday). :)

Observation:
Today's readings converge in some striking ways. Job in 14:14-17, Job asks:
Can the dead live again?
If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle,
and I would eagerly await the release of death.
You would call and I would answer,
and you would yearn for me, your handiwork.
For then you would guard my steps,
instead of watching for my sins.
My sins would be sealed in a pouch,
and you would cover my guilt.

As he wrote those words, he was in a dark place and had little hope in a future life. But his insights regarding the hope of eternal life are striking! Those who know that eternity is just on the other side of physical death have hope during all their years of struggle. Death for them is not the end, but a "release" into the next chapter of untold blessings. Our prayer life is completely different than it would be if we had no hope of life everlasting. We understand God in a completely different light as well. We realize the he won't discard us after we die. Instead, he yearns for his handiwork, guarding our steps. Rather than counting our sins against us, God seals them in a pouch and covers our guilt.

Similarly, Paul addresses the implications of our hope of everlasting life in 1 Corinthians 15. What I really like about the last verse of this chapter (v. 58) is that whatever we do for the Lord counts. Paul says that NOTHING we do for the Lord is ever useless. When we live our lives for God, IT MATTERS.

Application:
This realization motivates me to spend more time and energy engaging in work for the Lord...and that includes how I go about doing the ordinary things in the day. No matter what I happen to be doing, I have the choice of "doing it for the Lord" or doing the same thing mindlessly, without giving a thought to how my present activity may be used to glorify God. The big difference is the attitude I have...and the level of consciousness I bring to a given task. If I have an attitude of joy and worship...and if I am conscious of God's presence in that very moment, I can turn an ordinary task into an act of worship and adoration...no matter what it is! And NOTHING I do for the Lord is useless.

Prayer:
Lord, every moment of the day belongs to you. You've given me the blessed opportunity to serve you in everything I do. Please open my eyes to see you in everything I do...and help me glorify you in all things, small and large. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great week, no matter you're time zone!

Faithfully,
Chuck