Shining As Stars Series

So, we must realize that God does keep track of our actions, we are not saved by them, but we must account for what we do with our lives before Almighty God. That ought to put some fear and trembling in us. Not fear that makes us useless, but fear that drives us to do more and greater things for God and for each other, making this city a better place.

God enables us to do the work He has for us to do. We don’t; we can’t do these things in our own strength though. In our own strength, we will fail, but it is God who works IN US to do the things He wants us to do. As we read in the 4th chapter of this letter, I can do everything through him who gives me strength. And that ‘him’ is Jesus, that’s God.

So, God is working in us and through us to do His work, to do His will. That’s great. Now if only people would do all that work without arguing and complaining. Have you ever or do you now work with folks who complain about the work they are supposed to do? I find it strange that people take a job, knowing what the job is, agreeing to get paid for the job, and then complain about the job they are being paid to do. Not only is that an insult to the employer, it is probably difficult for anyone around who has to listen to them complain.

It’s like listening to children whine about doing chores…I don’t wanna do thaaaat. Why do I have to do that stinking job, can’t somebody else do that? They don’t have to do this, why do I have to? Because it’s your job, that’s why…

And then there’s arguing; getting into a tiff because of what we’re asked to do, or fighting over the way somebody else does the same job, or for some people, arguing for the sake of arguing…not nice to be around. Are we those kind of people? Could or does that happen within the church? DO we complain and argue about the work that God has given us to do? Sadly yes, sometimes Christians do complain about things, and even get into arguments about it. We don’t like the music, the coffee, the food, the programs, the pastor, the message, the need to evangelize, giving a tithe or offering, giving our time or our talent…and on it can go.

The goal is to be like Christ, blameless and pure, humble and obedient. He is our example. He has set the bar. Since we are His examples to others, we ought to exemplify Christ’s attitude towards whatever it is we do for the Kingdom of God. In whatever capacity we find ourselves, we should do it without complaint, and without and arguing over it. We should be glad to do anything for God. I love the Psalm and the song that say Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. (Psalm 84). We should be thankful just for being saved, but to be honoured in also doing work for God, that is a great gift as well; that God would entrust His work into our hands.

Being called God’s children puts a high standard upon us. We are the King’s kids. I have thought that royal families have it pretty good. They get to ride in limos, they travel the world, they have servants at their beck and call, and they have everything that they could ever want in terms of material things. But then I look at the way some of these people act, and it saddens me because they go around like a bunch of spoiled brats thinking that they are better than everyone else. It’s also sad that they really have no privacy because the paparazzi are around them all the time.