How Excellent, How Excellent is Your loving kindness O Lord, therefore we put our trust in You O Lord. Thank You for Who You are and not just about what You have done for us. Blessed be Thou Holy Name.
For who in the skies can compare with the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord? God is greatly feared in the council of the holy ones, more awe-inspiring than all who surround Him. Lord God of Hosts, who is strong like You, Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging sea; when its waves surge, You still them. (Ps 89:6-9) (HCSB)
Beloved of the Lord, I want you to give a shout offering unto the Lord! He is the King of kings. His reign is everlasting. Despite all the accusations against you, He said you must live, praise the Lord, all yea His people, for love endureth forever. Praise the Lord!
We want to examine ourselves against the background of we are doing presently. In our various work place, paid or voluntary. In some cases you have one you are paid and probably another where you are on volunteer. Either way, we want to examine the way we carry out the assignments given to us.
How do you handle it? With passion or indifferent? With Enthusiasm or lackadaisical. With dexterity or lethargy? Where did you fall in? When you have passion for what you do, there is this joy that swell up in you each time you complete a task. You are happy that you did it? Whether you are paid or not.
Now come to our topic for today, Are you Called or Driven? Considering the listed character above each depicts an attitude displays on given assignments. Sometimes this assignments are abused where the purpose or one does not have a clear sense of the assignment. Let’s find out more from the message before us?
Are You “Called” Or “Driven”?
The imagery of Christ making His way through the bustling, pawing, and demanding crowds was one of peace, bearing, and purpose. CALLED by the Father to complete His task, Jesus never appeared to be in a hurry… yet always progressing toward His goal.
Because Jesus had a clear sense of His calling, He was able at age 33 — the night before the cross — to say to His Father, “I have finished the work You gave me to do.” (John 17:4)
So it is to be with us. God has CALLED us to a work, be it in the context of the market place or behind a pulpit.
Unfortunately, many of us conduct our lives in a manner more indicative of a DRIVEN person :
- He’s results-orientated.
- He’s in constant pursuit of expansion.
- He’s restless and very intense.
- He’s very competitive.
- His people skills are underdeveloped.
- He’s “too busy for integrity.”
- He’s preoccupied with symbols of achievement
By contrast, Isaiah paints a picture of work accomplished God’s way:
“The work of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness will be quietness and confident trust forever.” (Isaiah 32:17)
If your lifestyle and approach to work reflect a DRIVEN man as opposed to the CALLED person of Isaiah 32:17, perhaps it is time to take inventory. (Adapted from FOTM)
Now can you answer the question before you, Called or Driven in your given task? Sometimes we are discouraged based on events happening around us. We set goals we cannot achieve, deadlines that are never met. Mails that we never get to read through. Even in our spiritual live, we are face with same challenges but we have good news for you. The message below will help us to staying the course even as it was titled. Come on let’s read on:
Staying The Course
QUESTION: “At what point do I fold up my tent and discontinue the pilgrimage with Christ?“
Paul, castigated by the very folks he had brought to Christ, set forth the cost of his private pilgrimage:
- Judged by his fellow believers
- Condemned to death
- A spectacle to others
- A fool for Christ
- Weak
- Without honor
- Hungry and thirsty
- Poorly clothed
- Roughly treated
- Homeless
- Toiled with his own hands
- Reviled
- Persecuted
- Slandered
- Viewed as the scum and dregs of the earth (See 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, 9-13)
How could he possibly survive? Simply because he was able to view the temporal in light of the eternal:
“This is the reason we never collapse. The outward man does indeed suffer wear and tear, but every day the inward man receives fresh strength.
“These little troubles (which are really so transitory) are winning for us a permanent, glorious and solid reward out of all proportion to our pain.
“We are looking… not at the visible things but at the invisible. The visible are transitory: It is the invisible things that are really permanent.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Phillips Translation)
So hang in there — Eternity is just one heartbeat away! (adapted from FOTM)
Beloved, will you like Paul view what is happening today as temporal, will you see it as momentary light affliction that is meant to produce the eternality for you. Will you say today, I refuse to give up, then ask God for grace to move on despite all odd?
Never! Never! Consider giving up. (Hab 3:17-19). Hang in there.
As we receive strength to persevere, may we receive the promised crown and the spotless white robe in Jesus Name. Amen! see you at the banqueting table hosts- The Lord Jesus Christ.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
