04/23/2025
What is our role in performing those things that God calls us to? Are we working for God, self-employed in our endeavor, or working in concert with Him and Jesus Christ? The answer might surprise you because when I introduce someone who is under my employment, I always say "I would like you to meet Jane/John Doe… we work together." You might be surprised to know that God does the same with us. There is no conceit in him or need to demonstrate dominance over us. If the job is to be done we must work together towards its completion.
My employee’s worth is not in their subservience, nor is my glory in how I am able to Lord over them. My position, and their self-worth are both tied to how well we can work together to get things done and be jointly prosperous.
“For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.”
1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV
Frederick Buechner was a theologian and Presbyterian Minister who was born on 1926 and died in 2022, and several years ago I became acquainted with a wonderful quote of His that is worth repeating, he said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." As I thought about this quote, I realized that the beauty in this was that when God calls us to that place of great significance, He doesn't just tell us where it is, no, He is already there waiting for us and is calling us to join Him there.
Once we have joined Him at the place of our calling, we begin the work with God that was the reason we were called there in the first place. God will direct our efforts, and don't be mistaken, this is His work, and we are but tools in His hand, but our greatest joy and duty is to remain focused on Him. We are meant to work together as we accomplish this thing, but the responsibility for it always remains with God. Pastor Oswald Chambers realized this partnership when he wrote these words:
"When once the concentration is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God alone. There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him." - Oswald Chambers
Keeping our eyes on the Lord is essential to our relationship with Him, and in performing the tasks he has called us to complete. In ancient times a general would take up a position on a high piece of ground and signal his army with a flag when it was time to attack, but he also raised various flags when it was time to pull back, or to turn in one direction or another. It was imperative that the soldiers not lose themselves in the battle and miss a signal... the battle could be won or lost depending on his leadership and direction... and so could their lives.
When God calls us, He doesn't turn us loose to do His calling on our own; He is with us always. He signals us as we go and even performs duties for us and with us when necessary... we are fellow workers when it comes to accomplishing His will. His Spirit isn't with us once at the beginning, but in all we do, and it is dynamic... telling us right or left, forward or back. What we do, we should always do at God's direction. Disaster begins at the moment we lose sight of Him.
God supplies us spiritually...
“For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.”
John 3:34 ESV
Physically...
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 ESV
And makes us victorious…
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV
Yes, He is ever with us and is not only the Master who assigns us tasks, but our Partner in accomplishing them. Never lose sight of the fact that it is His will, and His calling we are answering too. When called, we are not laboring in vain toward some insignificant goal, but to achieve His great purpose... and He demonstrates its importance by working side by side with us to help us accomplish His desire.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling me to where you are, and working with me to complete those things you have called me to do. Let my eyes forever be upon you. Never let me lose sight of you or miss a single word or flag of direction. I know that the tasks you call me to are yours and for to be performed for your glory; that it is not meant for me to usurp or claim personal pride in them. Holy Father I thank you for having selected me carefully for each task, because I know that in doing so we will be working together in it. My hand longs for yours, and my stride falls short without you walking beside me. Guide me Father and never let me stray from your side. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and great are you who stoops low to whisper your instruction into my ear. Holy are you who not only forgave us, but who worked through your Son Jesus to accomplish that task. Wonderful are you who not only sends us into the world to deliver the gospel of Jesus Christ, but whose Holy Spirit accompanies us and is with us always. You not only hear our prayers but help us through Him as we pray them and then answer each of them as you go about providing for us. Merciful and full of grace are you Lord, and amazing are you in the perfection of your direction as we work and walk together. We praise your name and call you Yahweh, God, Lord, and Master. You are ever above us and yet choose to work at our side to do whatever you ask of us… ask today, and let our sweat mingle with yours as we work to do your will. Then at the end of each day hear our prayers and give us peace and rest as we calmly lift up your name and glorify you as we remember our efforts and witness regarding them to all those who will hear. Great are you and greatly to be praised!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and let all who hear say… Amen.
Rich Forbes