Dear Weekly Readers!
May God Bless your week! John R.
THE
WORKS OF GOD
Throughout these last few months, I
have been thinking and looking at what modern-day
America says about doing the work of
God. Often, we think that the work of God is being a pastor or a missionary, or
leading music in the church, or doing something where people can see that we
are serving God.
None of these services are bad, but
we shouldn't think that if we are not doing these things that we are not doing
the work of God. Looking at the history of Christianity we realize that most of
the Christians in the past 2000 years went to church once a week, heard the
Word, partook of the Sacraments and went home to scratch out a living.
In modern times, it seems that many
people have a lot more time to worry about if they are "doing" the
work of God. This question often comes up when people are "choosing"
an occupation or a vocation. Jesus addressed this question in an account in the
book of John.
When the people therefore saw that
Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came
to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the
sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when
camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the
loaves, and were filled.
Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God
the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might
work the works of God?
Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him
whom he hath sent. John 6:24-29 Here, Jesus is talking
to a crowd that had come looking for Him because He had fed them the
day before. Most of the time, we would think, "Isn't it great that the
crowd wants to hear Jesus again?" But this crowd is looking to fill their bellies. They are searching
out Jesus for selfish reasons. At times, we also may do things for God or search
out God for our own selfish gain, or even to look good to others or to feel good about
ourselves. When that is the case, our focus is wrong. Instead of a selfish
focus, we should look to Jesus and His words. It's also important to know that
even if we are serving God for our own selfish reasons, God can still make it
work for His own good.
No matter where we find ourselves in
this life, if we believe, we are doing the works of God. So, as a believing
parent, we are doing the works of God. As a carpenter who is a believer, we are doing the
works of God. We, as believers, are led by the power of the Holy Spirit and our
focus comes away from ourselves to others. We may not be serving in the mission
field or leading a church, but that does not make our role as a believer any
less important.
Actually, I would say that the
calling of being a parent and raising children in the love and grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ is a much greater calling than being a pastor. In fact Paul tells Timothy that if he does
not manage his own household well then he should not be in the ministry.
Wherever God has put us in our daily
vocation we are serving him by serving our family, neighbors and church family.
We continue to do the work of God by believing in
the one that He sent. ~
Pastor Gerry Southerton
Vancouver, Washington
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