ARE YOU DOING A GREAT WORK?
So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?"
Nehemiah 6:3
Nehemiah was called by God to go to Jerusalem and lead the people to rebuild the broken down walls of the city. It was an important, God-directed, God-sized task. As such, it incurred the wrath and opposition of the devil as he tried every possible way to derail the project, discourage the builders, and defeat the Lord's plans.
On one occasion, the enemies of God tried to lure Nehemiah away from the rebuilding of the wall by asking for a conference to discuss their differences. They wanted him to take a break from the building and meet them at the plains of Ono. Nehemiah could see through their deception and said, "Oh no," to Ono. He told them he was doing a great work and could not come down to meet them. I love that. He saw that what he was doing - an unglamorous, dirty, backbreaking, sweat-filled, manual labor-type of job - was in reality a great work for God.
IT'S A GREAT WORK
Whatever work God has truly directed you to do, that work, no matter what it may be, is a great work. Maybe it is taking care of babies, or working with students, or teaching children, or leading a Bible study, or helping behind the scenes, or singing in the choir, or playing in the orchestra, or serving as a prayer warrior, or visiting shut-ins, or helping the under-privileged, or just letting your light shine in your daily routine. Any God-directed work is a great work.
Don't let the devil discourage you into thinking what you are doing does not matter. For all you moms who spend countless hours changing diapers, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, and receiving little "thanks" for all your hard work, hear this: YOU ARE DOING A GREAT WORK! The devil wants to make you think you are wasting your life by staying home with your kids. NO YOU ARE NOT!! You are doing a great work for God. Jesus said, "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42).
Be encouraged this day as you seek the Lord on what He wants you to do, and do it with all your might. Building walls around the city of Jerusalem may not sound too spiritual, but it surely was to God. It is what He wanted His people to do for Him. Make it your goal to serve the King each day and do everything for His glory. That kind of heart attitude makes the most mundane of tasks a spiritual experience that honors the Lord Jesus and earns reward in heaven.
PRAYER
Lord, I have been thinking that what I do does not matter. I have been guilty of dividing my life into the secular and the sacred. I realize now that it is all sacred to You. Everything I do can be a spiritual experience if I do it for Your glory - "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). I choose to do all to the glory of God. What a privilege to serve You, Jesus. I am reporting for duty.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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