August 29, 2005

 

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

--Ephesians 6:5-8

 

There are many great Christians who love the Lord with all their hearts, but hate their jobs and see no purpose in what they’re doing. They’re bored—dragging through each day just trying to make it to the weekend. Maybe you can find a similarity with this and your own situation.

 

But every member of God’s family has a job that should be fulfilling and one that is done with purpose—it is that of a minister. Your job does not have to be just a job. It can be a joy and place of service for the Lord Jesus Christ. Even in what seems like a place of disappointment and dead ends, you can have the most exciting, invigorating, and challenging work in the entire world and never have to change jobs!

 

You have the opportunity to turn your job into a calling for the Lord Jesus Christ. You may say, “Pastor, I’m just so ordinary and average.” Of course you are! So am I! But, God delights taking ordinary people who are in ordinary places and doing extraordinary things in their lives by the power of His Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 tells us to “be filled with the Spirit.”

 

Whether you’re a student, athlete, musician, office worker, homemaker, educator, or whoever, God wants to do something phenomenal in your life right where you are. So much of your time is spent on the job. Your time there should be more than just working and trying to get to retirement. But every day, wherever you are, should be meaningful and everything you do should be to the Lord.

 

So many people think that their work life would be better if they were a missionary or worked at the church or for some ministry. But there are rough spots in ANY job—especially in ministry. Every child of God is a minister, and we’ve been commissioned to serve Him and share His love and message exactly where He has placed us.

 

CONSIDER YOUR PLACE OF WORK AND EVERYWHERE YOU GO A PLACE OF SERVICE TO THE LORD.