Saturday, December 27, 2008
Dear Faithful One,
The Lord has given us twelve hours of daylight with which to accomplish the work He has set before us. Each of us is tasked with deciding how we will use that time. The older we get, the more we realize how quickly time passes, and how little time we are truly given in this present life. The more time we spend in the Word of God, the more we realize how little time we have left to be about our Father's business and share His provisions with a world that is vastly unaware of how parched and hungry they are.
We need to take stock, more than ever, of the time we have each day and consider how much of it we are wasting away on personal pleasure and vain pursuits. Even when we are well intentioned to help others and do the work of the Lord, we must be cautious of those hours we spend laboring in our own strength. The work of God is a gift we have been given, but we cannot help others, or lead others, if we have not first set aside necessary time to spend being refreshed and filled through the Word of God and prayer.
May we, with grateful hearts, take advantage of the time we have been given, and not take for granted the freedom that we have, to give our attention to God's Word and become people of prayer, as we submit each and every day of this new year to the plans and purposes of God alone! Our Lord finds great pleasure in our desire to spend this time with Him!
"As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him Who sent Me.
Night is coming, when no one can work."
(John 9:4)
For His Glory, Honor, and Praise,
Traci Alexander
Trumpet and Torch Ministries
John 1:14
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Day One: Revealing the WORK of God
"The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent."
(John 6:29)
Breakfast: Two Turtle Doves - Focus on Matthew 3:16-17
"He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove
from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening,
there in its beak was a fresly plucked olive leaf!"
(Genesis 8:10-11)
Jesus is the Word of God Who came in human flesh and made His dwelling with us to accomplish His purpose of dwelling in us that we might be able dwell with Him for all eternity. His story is a story of love recorded in the pages of the Holy Bible for all of mankind to read, believe, and accept.
"On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me...two turtle doves..." The Book of Genesis unveils the covenants that the Lord made with Noah (reference Genesis 6:18; 9:8-17), and renewed through Abraham (reference Genesis 15:9-21; 17), and finally fulfilled through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross (reference Jeremiah 31:31-34; Mark 14:24; 1 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 9:15). The original covenant and the new covenant make up the two portions of the Word of God that we have come to know as the Old Testament and the New Testament (two turtle doves).
The old covenant required the blood of sacrificial animals and the new covenant would be confirmed by the final sacrifice and blood of Jesus Christ. God's plans have never been about our work, it has always been about His blessing and His love. His original design for His creation was to reveal Himself as the provider and sustainer for all that He created - an expression of His great and awesome love for all that His hands have made.
The Lord acheived all His purposes through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Mankind toils and labors as a result of sin, but we have been set free from that yoke of bondage because of God's gift of grace (reference Genesis 3:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-10). Today, our greatest work is be believe in all that Christ has done on our behalf and to live a life of dependence and reliance upon the Lord by submitting to His will and being devoted to His Word and prayer. May we be committed to beginning each day of this new year with our hearts set on seeking Him first - if we do, we will never be disappointed!
"This will be the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time...
I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people."
(Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10)
Lunch: Finding Meaning...in Work - Focus on Ecclesiastes 2:10-11; 17-26
"Do not work for food that spoils,
but for food that endures to eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you."
(John 6:27)
God created mankind to rule over the earth - to fill it and subdue it (reference Genesis 1:28-30). The Lord gave man dominion over the earth, to find pleasure, and to enjoy all that He has provided. Unfortunately, mankind, in his selfishness, has become greedy, dissatisfied, and discontented, spending less time enjoying the benefits of the earth we have been given, and more time spending endless hours toiling for things that bring momentary pleasure, but have little, or, no lasting value.
We were created to enjoy the blessings of the earth that we have been given, all amply provided by God so that our devotion would be given to Him. He provided everything we need to live, but we will never find the enjoyment or satisfaction in what we have been given apart from the Lord. Our life's work is supposed to draw us closer to the Lord, and lead others to the knowledge of Him, yet many believers' set life long goals whose focus is more about human achievement and fulfilling personal plans than on the things of God.
As we reflect on Solomon's wisdom, let us offer a prayer of gratitude for all that the Lord has provided for our enjoyment and fulfillment, but not forget the greater work He has accomplished in our lives through His awesome sacrifice. As we begin to think about this new year and the plans we have for our jobs, careers, education, and ministry, may we be even more aware of how each activity we do will ultimately affect the Kingdom of God. Are we working for things that will bring us momentary pleasure, or are we investing our time and talents in the things of etermity?
The more attention we give to the work of God, the less our effort we have to make, yet the greater the results seem to be. When we submit to the work of the Lord it is His power and provision that accomplishes His plans - we simply reap the blessings of a privileged participant watching His magnificent plan unfold!
"Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."
(Isaiah 55:2)
Dinner: The Sovereignty of God - a Matter of Work - Focus on Daniel 2:17-28,44
"Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builder labor in vain."
(Psalm 127:1a)
Daniel had been gifted by the Lord with the ability to understand visions and dreams of all kinds (reference Daniel 1:17b). Even with his gift, however, when he was tasked with the job to implement it, he turned to the Lord, because he knew that any talent, ability, or gift we have been given is not exercised to its' fullest apart from the Lord.
As we meditate on Daniels prayer of praise, to the God of heaven, we rejoice with him that we have a God Who desires us to know Him personally and longs to have a deep abiding relationship with us so that He can bless us with all good things. The Lord will provide everything we need, in His perfect timing, if we will simply rest in His care. More than anything He longs to reveal Himself in deep and personal ways so we can see just how faithful and loving He is.
Everything that we set our hands to do should first be submitted to the Lord to be sure it falls in line with His plans. Often He will give us tasks that make absolutely no sense at the time they are given, but are a perfect part of His magnificent plan. When we set aside time each day to seek Him first and to study His Word, He is faithful to reveal His will to us and to guide us into all Truth!
God's work has been completed since the beginning of creation and fulfilled in the work of Christ Jesus. Our job is to simply believe in Him. Tonight, may we end the day grateful for the work we have been given to do and thankful to our gracious and loving God Who provides all our needs. May each new day bring us greater opportunity to share the awesome testimony of the work He has done on our behalf in fulfilling His covenant promises through the blood of Jesus Christ!
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life what you will eat;
or about your body, what you will wear...
your Father knows that you need them.
But seek His kingdom,
and these things will be given to you as well."
(Luke 12:22, 30-31).
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A Word of Encouragement
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work."
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
