Sunday, June 9, 2013

Week 24: Faith at Work

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:
  • Sunday: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38; Acts 7:1-29; Psalm 127:1-5; Proverbs 16:28-30
  • Monday: 1 Kings 7:1-51; Acts 7:30-50; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 16:31-33
  • Tuesday: 1 Kings 8:1-66; Acts 7:51-8:13; Psalm 129:1-8; Proverbs 17:1
  • Wednesday: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29; Acts 8:14-40; Psalm 130:1-8; Proverbs 17:2-3
  • Thursday: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19; Acts 9:1-25; Psalm 131:1-3; Proverbs 17:4-5
  • Friday: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34; Acts 9:26-43; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 17:6
  • Saturday: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24; Acts 10:1-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 17:7-8
Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the Psalms:

Scripture: Psalm 127:1, 2
"Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
"Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
"It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones."

Observation:
These words from the Psalmist underscore the importance of keeping God in the center of our work. We can work hard to build a house, but if the Lord is not central to the activity, our efforts are wasted. The Bible says that we need not fret over our daily work, anxiously striving to make a living. We can do our work in peace, trusting that God is our ultimate provider and sustainer.

Application:

We tend to think of the work we do Monday through Friday as somehow existing in a separate sphere of life from "spiritual activities" like going to church on Sunday and doing daily devotions. Sometimes we think of our jobs as a necessary evil, which we have to do to survive.

God invites us to think differently about our lives. He wants to dissolve any distinctions we may have in our minds between "sacred" and "secular." God is just as active and involved in our daily activities at work as he is in every other aspect of our lives. He wants us to acknowledge him in everything we do at work and make a point of devoting everything we do in our days to his glory...construing every thought and word and action as an offering of worship and devotion.

God invites us to experience his presence and peace in every activity we engage in throughout the day. The ultimate benefits of our activity at work are not derived from the level of anxious effort we exert but by the grace that God brings to bear as we offer everything we do to his glory.

Prayer:
O Father, please help me recognize you in everything I do at work as much as I seek to acknowledge your presence when I am engaged in other forms of worship. May all that I am and do be a pleasing offering to you, for Jesus' sake. Amen!

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck

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