Faith and Work ~ Work Can Destroy You

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Pray | Lord, give us insight on how my faith should shape our work, because our work matters to you and to others.

This week in looking at work and its relationship to the fall in the Garden, we’ve seen that we’ve been working from the very beginning, and that work became more difficult after listening to the serpent. Limitations set by God are for our good, and brokenness causes us to ignore those boundaries creating difficulties in and between us. Today we’re considering how our faith can influence our work, and that if faith doesn’t, our work has the potential to destroy us.
Read | Psalm 119:30; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; Micah 6:8 

Psalm 119:30
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. 
Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on one or more of the following:

Pastor and theologian, Tim Keller, in speaking on faith and work, offers four ways faith can serve us in our vocation. The first is faith gives an inner stability without which work can destroy us. 
If our self-worth, importance, identity or competence comes from work, our successes go to our head and our failures go to our heart. If we are not absolutely certain of our worth, we’ll be whipped back and forth but faith can keep us grounded in the stormiest of times.

Faith reminds us of the dignity of all work.
With this truth central in our hearts, we won’t have a belittling attitude toward others’ work. The shutdowns during the pandemic revealed and reminded us of some of the unsung heroes in our midst. Our uplifting of them showed we valued their dedication and work, that their work very much mattered.

Faith gives us a moral compass without which work could corrupt us.
With so much pressure for profitability, and with culture leaning toward moral relativity, leaving our faith at the door may cause our clarity and conviction to become soggy and soupy.

Lastly, faith gives us a world view that shapes the character of our work, and without faith, our work could master and use us.
We might find ourselves giving more to our jobs than to our families, which in turn causes us to prioritize in a disordered manner, putting our best effort, energy and position toward work. Our work has the potential to shape us if we walk unaware of if we are shaping or being shaped by our work environment.

Though people can be difficult, and work is harder and slower due to a ground cursed with thorns and thistles, that’s not all we’re left with, we have faith. Faith gives us hope in all circumstances, so let us not leave it at the door as we finish our prayers, begin our day and enter our work.

Does my faith shape my work, or am I being shaped by my work? If so, how? Am I certain of my self-worth and identity outside of my job or role?

Written for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional
Link here to the second message in a four part series on Faith and Work
Pastor Jonathan Haage // (message The Curse of Work begins at 16:12)

Your Work Matters ~ Embracing Limits

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Pray | Lord, help me see the limits you have in place for my daily life.

“Should babies have maple syrup?” my daughter-in-law asked as I dipped a piece of pancake into syrup before plopping it in my granddaughter’s mouth as she murmured “Mmmmmm.” Turns out, they should not.

Just because the taste is sweet, or something looks appealing, doesn’t mean it’s good for us. Sometimes it’s as simple as syrup for a baby, but it can be as complicated as the fruit on a forbidden tree. 

Read |  Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-5 

Genesis 2:15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 

Genesis 3:1-5
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on one or more of the following

In the Garden, God forbid Adam and Eve the fruit of one tree. Enter the serpent, who out points out to Eve the prohibition of one tree, neglecting God’s provision of the rest of the trees, implication — God is restrictive. While living within the limit God set for them, Adam and Eve lived harmoniously and uninhibited with God and one another. But once they broke that boundary, they suddenly felt naked, ashamed, covering themselves and even hiding from God. When asked what they had done Adam blamed Eve (and kind of blamed God, “The woman you put here with me . . . “) and Eve blamed the serpent and they became fragmented. That decision to take the forbidden fruit still affects work environments and relationships today; we can be difficult with each other, have a hard time taking ownership of our actions, we can be disagreeable and prideful . . . fragmented.

Interestingly while living within God’s limitations in the garden, work was fulfilling and good, yielding much. But with disregarded limitations, work became harder, there were thorns and thistles to contend with. Those thorns and thistles are still present in our work today, they can pop up as tedium, exhaustion, blaming, difficult deadlines, co-workers, clients, bosses and such. But we still have the option to embrace God’s limits today, and when we do, we live with each other much more harmoniously, and work is good and fulfilling.

How might the brokenness back in the Garden affect your relationships and work life? Do you have a sense of God’s limits for you? What are some limitations that have yielded fruit in your home and work life?

Written for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional
 

Your Work Matters

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Work, whether paid or unpaid, includes all meaningful and moral activity apart from leisure and rest. Work is fundamentally about contribution, not compensation, adding value to others. (Tom Nelson)

Pray |Lord, may my hands, mind and heart work as if working for you.

When babies are born and grow we see personalities, strengths, gifts, talents and preferences emerge. We watch them pretend to be explorers, builders, dancers, scientists, moms, dads and so much more. Before we know it they are coming alongside us to wipe up spills, pound nails, wash cars, plant gardens and whatever else we do; it simply seems to be in our nature to want to help. 

Read |  Genesis 1:28; 2:15; 3:17-19

Genesis 1:28
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 2:15
 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Genesis 3:17-19
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you;
    through painful toil you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
    you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
    since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
    and to dust you will return.”

Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on one or more of the following:

It’s ironic to consider the toddler happily going back and forth across the lawn with his or her play mower, and then years later that same teen grumbling about having to mow the lawn. As adults, roles, jobs and careers that at one time were new and exciting many times become riddled with difficulties and frustrations. Though created to contribute, we see that work was made difficult through the fall in the Garden. Whether it’s a demanding boss or customer, an annoying co-worker, a deadline or budget that seems impossible to meet, power lines that need to be fixed despite the cold or heat, endless meals to plan and prepare, the umpteenth diaper change of the day, and on, and on, and on ~ in all work inevitably there will be difficulties.

Whether it’s outside or within the home, discipline, perseverance, growth, character and more can be developed through our work. Each of us absolutely has some level of influence in our work, is it my children, client, co-worker, neighbor, boss, or subordinate? How might I be influencing those I come in contact with on the daily? It can be easy to slip into believing that we work for the weekend, retirement, or to pay the bills, but as Christians we are called to work as if for the Lord, and to do it with all our hearts (Col. 3:23-24), despite the sometimes painful labor and toil.

Are you aware of your influence through your work? Have you considered your work as a part of kingdom work? If not, would your perspective and purpose shift if you did?

Written for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional
Link to the first message in a four part series on Faith and Work ~
Why Your Work Matters to God and Why God Matters to Your Work
by Pastor Henry Williams
(message begins at 19:21)

The Book of Job ~ Day 3 of 3

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Pray | Lord, may I turn to you, your Word, your Truth, and your promises when I am confused.

I JUST NEED TO TALK TO GOD

As we read through Job we see that he holds on to what he knows is true, he has done no wrong. After the ongoing, sometimes long winded (hello Elihu), monologues of friends, Job really just wants to talk to God. He wants to hear what God has to say, he begs to plead his case directly to the Judge, while also realizing God’s wisdom is so profound that Job couldn’t actually dispute him, but what he could do is plead for mercy. The wisdom in Job is this – I just need to talk to God. After loss, grief, pain, standing in integrity, then questioning, blaming, shaming and careless words, I love how chapter 38 begins, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm.” For what a storm it had been.

Read |  Job 38-42

Reflect | 

God gives this tour of the universe, asking if Job was there at the earth’s foundation, asking if he had given orders to the morning, entered the storehouses of snow, and on and on. God speaks in incredible detail about land, sea, animals, birth and more, showing Job (and us) It’s just not all about you. When God says to Job – Ok you do it, you run this universe, unleash your fury, crush the wicked where they stand, it creates a moment of deep humbling. I can’t think of one person who would truly believe they could run the universe; some of us might think we could run our universe, but given that power we’d see that so many other people and events are tied to ours that it would be beyond overwhelming to our eyes, hearts and minds and we would immediately realize our limitations.

The Bible Project’s podcast on Job points out God is displaying that the world is in order, but there can still be suffering because in many ways “it’s still got wild in it, and it’s still dangerous.” Not to mention the free will part and also the evil that exists. In the end Job’s response boils down to, I thought I knew, but now I know I don’t. I thought too highly of my abilities to understand how things work, and his mind, heart and posture changed.  I love when God points out that Job did speak this truth – he didn’t deserve what happened to him, it wasn’t anything he did.

We are so very intelligent, sending rockets to space – for science and now even for pleasure. We have learned incredible secrets of the universe, and can do more and know more than ever before, and what we don’t know we Google! We want to know and understand everything, and when we don’t, when things just don’t make any sense, when it seems there cannot be sense made of some things, what do we do? Do we write off God? Do we silently tell him, If I don’t see any good in this then you’re not good? Do we possibly want a God we are equal to?

Our true best hope in dark and confusing times is in humility before God. I don’t get this, it makes no sense, I am sure this grieves even your heart Lord. but I trust you still. To some this will make no sense, you have to know God to trust him. Understanding God’s character and deep love is a path to trusting him; and the truth is we can’t humble ourselves before someone we don’t trust.

Do you know and trust God? Where does your mind tend to go when you can’t make sense of things or events? When it seems God isn’t intervening, do you trust him still? What storm do you need God to speak out of?

The Book of Job ~ Day 2 of 3

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Pray | Lord, you are good and trustworthy; by your Holy Spirit, help me to believe that when I’m confused by the difficult and tragic things of this world.

BUT IS HE REALLY RIGHTEOUS?

In the book of Job, in a counsel meeting of sorts, Satan tells God that Job, a man the Lord Himself called blameless and upright, is only that way because God has blessed him over and over, of course Job is a good man because he’s rewarded for it. And so begins the loss, suffering and responses of this man of integrity, this man who fears God and shuns evil.

Read |  Job 1 – 2

Reflect | 
In the Bible Project Podcast’s on Job they submit that the question of Job is “If God is just shouldn’t the world always be run by the principle of just compensation?” They surmise that what Satan might be saying to God is that if righteous people are always rewarded doesn’t that have potential to corrupt their righteousness? Will we maintain a posture of righteousness if, or really when, we suffer?

This question has had my mind busy this week; suddenly the book of Job wasn’t just about this man who was experiencing unexpected tragedy, but about me and my beliefs, which I now realize might sometimes fall under the just compensation theory. How many times has my heart whispered up to God, But they’re such good people, please, please fix this. Is it possible some of us accidentally, maybe sometimes believe that because God is good and just that he would, or even should, make sure that good begets good?

When situations don’t seem fair, that is a critical time to lean into God, to ask ourselves if we really believe and trust God. Could we pause to acknowledge I’m feeling like this seems not okay from my vantage point, but then also consider and trust that it has passed through the hands of God, taking in that his complexity and perspective is so much wider and deeper than ours – much more than our brains can even conceive. And that sometimes things and people grieve even his heart too.

In the podcast when speaking of our own limitations, they mention that dogs can’t learn algebra. In talking this through with my daughter Erin, she added, “And dogs don’t need to know algebra. We’re like that too, we don’t need to know everything; that to know everything is actually beyond our brains and capacity.” This is wisdom, to know we can’t know it all . . . but we can know the One who does.

Can you think of a situation where you maybe believed that good begets good? When was the last time you were confused by a suffering that hit you or someone you love? How did you, or do you, manage your confusion when that happens?

Feel free to comment, we can all learn from each other.

Written originally for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional

The Book of Job ~ Day 1 of 3

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Pray | Lord, by your Holy Spirit, help me to seek and value wisdom as I walk in this day, and then day by day, for all of my days.

THE MAN WHO LOST SO MUCH

This week we’re looking at wisdom in the book of Job. When I consider the book of Job my first thoughts are of a righteous and good man who suffers horrific loss through no fault of his own. There’s an example of friendship ~ friends who travel to sympathize and comfort Job, who are so pained to see their friend’s great suffering that they simply sit in silence with him for seven days and nights (I want to be that friend). At some point though they do begin speaking their many thoughts and sharing their beliefs about how God works and about what Job must have done to be on the receiving end of this tragedy. But Job knows what he knows – he is innocent and he clings to that truth. Eventually confusion enters, Why, God, why? If God is just, why am I suffering so? Eventually the Lord speaks, not answering Job’s question directly, but giving an answer nonetheless. We’ll begin in chapter 28, which is about where wisdom is found.

Read |  Job 28

Reflect | 

In this chapter the search is on for silver, copper, gold, onyx, crystal, topaz and even more precious gems. The author describes how we tunnel through rock, lay bare the roots of mountains, and search rivers to find what is valuable. While we aren’t out mining for what we believe is valuable, maybe we’re expending much time and energy seeking other things we believe matter most – personal satisfaction, financial gain, comfort, the best job, status, relationships, distraction or even reaching the end of our to do list. Not that these things are bad or wrong, but the question may be about how much time and energy we also invest in seeking God’s wisdom. And by the way, where does wisdom dwell? Where can we find it? Job reveals that it is with God, who views everything, to the ends of the earth. While we, like viewing a parade, just see the portion in front of us and have recollections of what has already passed. But to view and consider everything to the ends of the earth is not ours to have. Wisdom is with the One who knows and has seen it all.

Today let’s consider if we truly see wisdom as something to be valued. And if it is, do we seek it as such? Do you believe wisdom lies with God?

Written originally for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional

Holy Spirit ~ Day 3 of 3

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Written originally for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional

Pray |Lord, by your Holy Spirit, show me when I’m forgetting that I need you.

RIGHT HERE, ALL THE TIME

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes about when Jesus initially said to Peter, “Follow me.” He writes that Peter followed with no hesitation, that “The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it.” Peter was sure he could follow Jesus, even unto death, but one night at a fire pit  he denied three times even knowing Jesus when questioned by a servant girl. Peter had come to the end of himself and his ability to stand in the truth.

Chambers’ line, mentioned above, “…and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it.” has caused some reflection for me this week. As you re-read that line, are there situations in which you may not even be considering the knowledge, wisdom or power of the Holy Spirit? Are you leaning on your own strength and understanding, only doing things in which you don’t need the Holy Spirit to help me?

Day 3 — Read

Acts 1:8
Romans 8:10-11
2 Corinthians 3:17
Galatians 5:22-25

Day 3 – Reflect

There’s just so much to say about the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is within us through the Holy Spirit – but do we believe that? If so, that should be a confidence booster. It is written that there is freedom in the Spirit of the Lord – he doesn’t bind and restrict us, he gives boundaries (like any good parent) and all sorts of freedom within those borders. The Spirit gives us the power to be gentle, to serve one another, to have joy – even within difficult situations and times. He has the power to transform us so that the old is gone, our eyes can become new, hearts of stone can become tender, and we are given armor as well as weapons to stand firm. Clearly this part of the Trinity is full of power and might, invaluable to all who believe and receive the Holy Spirit.

Reflect on a time (or times) when you came to the end of yourself, your self-sufficiency, your promises, but instead of it being the end of the story, it became a turning point. How did the Holy Spirit enter that season?

Holy Spirit ~ Day 2 of 3

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Written originally for Five Oaks Church Daily Devotional

Pray | Open my eyes to your activity in and around my life through your Holy Spirit. Amen.

JESUS LEFT. NOW WHAT?

Young children often learn truths like, “God is my Father” and “Jesus is my friend.” But the Holy Spirit can be a little tricky for a child (ahem, or even an adult) to understand, so one simple way to consider him is this ~ the Holy Spirit is my helper.

Those who walked with Jesus at their side received so much from him; he spoke what his Father wanted people to know and understand. There was healing, teaching, forgiveness, comfort and much more that so many experienced through his presence. Jesus had an impact, and it was good that he was with them, so his departure was confusing to his followers. “I thought he was going to set things right” more than likely traipsed through their minds and passed through their lips. The help they were expecting was short-sighted, for it was for a time and a place, but all along the plan was to grant us help, for all time, in all places, through the Holy Spirit. Another true gift. 

Day 2 – Read

John 14:25-29
John 3:34

Luke 12:11-12
Ephesians 1:17
Romans 8:26-27
Isaiah 11:2

Reflect | 

The Holy Spirit is from God, and if we believe God is for us, then his Holy Spirit is an incredible gift to receive. We so often hear, “Follow your heart.” But the Word says to ask God to search your heart and to guard your heart, for everything we do flows from it. Sometimes it can be confusing to discern what is right and true, but we have access to this amazing advocate who will reveal our heart, show us truth, and remind us of what we have learned through the Word. He will grant us wisdom, revelation and understanding when we seek them, and he will give us hope when it feels there is none. When we don’t even know what to say or ask, he will intercede on our behalf. The Holy Spirit, the very essence of God, is active and available; do we sense him, listen to him? What sort of things in our lives might be set right if we asked for his help and guidance?

Ponder your spiritual journey.  Can you name a few places in which the Holy Spirit was active? Would you consider sharing that story with at least one other person?

Holy Spirit Day 1 0f 3 ~ Wait, You’re Leaving

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Day 1 of 3 ~ Written for Five Oaks Church Daily Life Devotional

Pray |
 Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Give us eyes to recognize the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Wait, You’re Leaving?
What could possibly be better than walking, talking and learning from Jesus himself? Imagine being in Jesus’s inner circle, bearing witness for a few years to miraculous healings, risings, teachings and more. Then one day he tells you it is for your good that he goes away.

I might lean toward Peter’s response at the transfiguration and tell Jesus, “It’s really good for you to be right here. I’ll get my husband to build us a shelter because I really, really don’t want you to leave.” But Jesus was clear with his disciples about his leaving, and before he left, he commanded them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Holy Spirit, the promised gift of the Father, and so they returned to Jerusalem.
Read |
 Acts 1:1-5; 
Matthew 17:1-8
John 15:26-27 & 16:1-15
Isaiah 11:1-3
Reflect | 

What does the Holy Spirit do? So much.
The Holy Spirit advocates, helps, guides, comforts, teaches, intercedes, reveals truth and wisdom. He gives counsel, conviction, grace, power, testimony, understanding and knowledge of the Lord, to name some of what he does. Because Jesus did indeed leave (at least for now) and sent his Holy Spirit, the actual Spirit of the Lord can rest upon, and in, each one of us. Not just for those who walked along the path with him, those who could invite him to dinner, reach out and touch his robe, or sit on the grass and eat fish with him. Jesus left and sent the Holy Spirit to all of us, everywhere, all the time.

Consider reading, and even writing out, several verses about the Holy Spirit, and then identify and reflect on what the Holy Spirit is doing in each one. To simplify this, you could classify them as Resting Upon/In, Guiding/Helping or Power. 

Come, Bow, Worship, even if . . .

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Pray | Lord, in my hustle and bustle, joy or anxiousness, may I not be too busy or distant to pause and consider the wonder of who you are.

December is full of such good stuff! Families gather from near and far, friends are meeting up for celebration, lights go up with frozen fingers, trees and streetlights are twinkling, and there’s the buying, wrapping and giving one to another. But that’s not everyone’s story, it can also be a season of dread, loneliness and anxiety. There’s the reality that finances and time are limited, maybe a heart is grieving, conflict is in the air, or one we love so very dearly is not ‘round the tree but in a hospital. 

The Magi must have had their share of challenges that first Christmas. Before their long journey there were travel plans to make, camels to pack and such, and then miles and miles of searching. But even so, it is written that as they traversed, they saw “the star” and were overjoyed! This Advent, as the days tick off the calendar, will there be a point in which we are overjoyed at something so simple but significant?

When these Magi finally arrived at  the house of Mary and Joseph, they saw the child with his mother and bowed down and worshiped. (Can you just imagine the awe and relief of Mary and Joseph?! Maybe saying, “We have indeed understood these messages from the Lord!”)

Oh, that in this season of Advent, of arrival, that we would come to really see the manger, that we consider the baby, toddler, man, Messiah who came to be with us for such a loving purpose. If the calendar is crowded, and “s t r e t c h e d” is the feeling of the day, how much more valuable to pause, bow and worship (Exodus 20:3.) If burdened and heavy laden, now is the hour to make time for Jesus, for he says he’s gentle and humble in heart, that you’ll find rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-30). If you find yourself confused, anxious, or with a grieving heart over something or someone, then come close, because it is written that Jesus is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). And if you are in a place of abundance and joy, the bid is still to come close (Deuteronomy 8:10-18). One thing is clear, there’s room for all of us at the manger.


Read | Matthew 2:9-12

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.


Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on the following:

We come often to the Lord with our needs and desires, which is so, so good, but what I love about the wise men, is that before Jesus did anything in his time on earth, they bowed, worshiped and gave gifts simply because of who he was, God with us.

May we each spend some time in reflection, asking God to help us come and bow this Christmas, no matter what, and even if . . .