I was cleaning out the basement a few weeks ago and ran across an old journal. From the few pages I read, it would seem that all I ever did back in 2007 was think about Jesus, talk about Jesus, read about Jesus and write about Jesus. There was a lot of good going on in my life back then. I had just married Ashley, I was a first-year apprentice electrician, I was cranking through the Bible, deciding where I stood on heavy, theological positions, writing down prayers, leading people to Christ and playing in one of the worship bands at The Rock Church.
One thing that stuck out to me in that old journal was a prayer that I had written down. It was for a co-worker named Joe. I prayed that God would save his marriage, reveal Himself to Joe and that Joe would become a Christian. I didn’t even know Joe all that well; I don’t remember praying for him. It took me by surprise to see how full of faith I was back then! I hate to say it, but I don’t pray for all of my co-workers like that anymore. Seeing that journal kind of knocked me back on my heels. It made me feel ashamed that I’m not doing as many things for the Lord as I used to.
I began to think things like, “Do I even remember the last time I led someone to Christ?”, “Have any of those people stuck around?” I began to feel poured out and used up by God. I felt like He was through with me — that the days of Him using me to do good things for Him were long gone. Have you ever been in this place? Have you ever felt like God was done using you? Like your “Christian glory days” were over?
Christian, I want to encourage you with what God’s Word really says about our labor for Him and His church. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Do you believe this? Do you walk like you’re the pencil line on a big page of dot-to-dot? Are you looking for the next good thing that God has prepared for you to do for Him, His kingdom or His church? I need to grow in this myself.
Please don’t forget that we shouldn’t do anything, thinking it will earn us favor with God. That’s not at all what that verse says. Jesus already took care of that. We should do it because we are His workmanship and we were created in Christ for the good works He has prepared for us to do.
With open eyes and a willing heart,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor