Let God Do His Thing

Let God Do His Thing 

INTRODUCTION:

The work ethic is the theory that hard work is virtuous and worthy of reward. That work ethic has crept into the Christian viewpoint by thinking that we must do God's work before we can merit his approval and acceptance. We need to replace that thinking by letting God do his thing. How would that look in our relationship with God?

I LET GOD DO HIS THING FOR OUR SALVATION:

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night asking him, "what must I do to receive eternal life?" Notice that he said what must I do. From childhood we are taught that we have to work for what we want to receive. The exception is when we come to a relationship with God. Nicodemus was amazed when Jesus told him that he had to be born again.How could a grown man be born again? Jesus told him again that he must be born again. Of course, Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth. A spiritual birth could only come from God. Then in John 3:16, we have probably the most famous verse in the Bible: "God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Some have said that this verse is the gospel in miniature. Notice that the words gave and believe are in this verse. In order to receive eternal life, salvation, or righteousness, we must receive them as a gift from God. Many people think these can be obtained or earned through their good works or behavior. The work ethic comes into play as we want to earn or merit God's acceptance and love. However, God offers eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and righteousness as a gift. God must do his thing when it comes to salvation and acceptance. He wants to accept us on his terms, no strings attached, because of his love. He offers us a gift if we will accept it. This would have seemed strange to Nicodemus, brought up in a strict Jewish setting based on sacrifices and precise laws from the time of Moses, in order to be acceptable to God. Nicodemus believed in a do-it-yourself religion, thinking that it was acceptable to God

However, in Romans 4:3, Paul says Abraham received righteous from believing God. Paul says that Abraham believed God, and righteousness was accounted (given) to him before he did anything or went anywhere. This was revolutionary, since the Jews believed that Abraham was made righteous by obeying God by being willing to sacrifice his son. Paul says that did not make Abraham righteous because that would have given him something to boast or be proud of. Jesus did it all on the cross, and all we have to do is to accept his righteousness as a gift. The God of Abraham is also the God of the New Testament, and we must accept righteousness as a gift as Abraham did. We cannot work or earn our way into a right relationship with God. It is strictly a gift from God. LET GOD DO HIS THING

Other verses on salvation:

Saved by grace, the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8,9

We become the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21

II LET GOD DO HIS THING IN YOUR SERVICE (WORK)

Colossians 3:23 says "whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord." Whatever you do, do it as if you were doing it for the Lord. The first year I was in seminary, one of my professors said that what makes an act Christian is the purpose for which it is done.Believe that whatever you are doing, you are doing it as unto the Lord. Let God use you in your daily work whatever it is, sacred or secular. Actually, God is enabling you to do whatever you are doing. Imagine how your job or whatever you are doing is meeting the needs of humanity. God is using you to help people. You are helping God to do his thing. Imagine what you are doing as a way of expressing God's love. Discover what you love about your job and thank God for it. Notice what is expected of you. Then do more than expected. Above all, do not use your job or whatever you do, to satisfy your needs or to validate who you are. Let your relationship with God confirm who you are--not your job.

Only God can ultimately give you satisfaction. Let God do his thing.

Other verses:

Do all in the name of Christ. Colossians 3:17

Do service as to the Lord, not man. Ephesians 6: 6,7

III LET GOD DO HIS THING FOR YOUR SURVIVAL:

Paul while visiting Athens said to the people, "in him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28) He noticed all the false Gods the people were worshiping and reminded them that the true God is our source of living, Life itself comes from God. Someone has said, "without him we can do nothing, and without him we are nothing,"