Monday, August 24, 2015

it all matters

Today's readings: Job 12:1-15:35, 1 Cor 15:29-58, Psalm 39:1-13, Prov 21:30-31

"Always work enthusiastically for Him, because you know that nothing you do for God is ever useless."

Feels that way sometimes, though, doesn't it? During the drudgery of our every day lives, making another meal, washing our clothes, even sleeping feels pointless at times. (And I love sleep!) But the verse today is pretty clear. Nothing we do for God is ever useless.

Is it "for God" that we eat our meals and wash our clothes and sleep at night? One of my all time favorite writers, Frederick Buechner, would say that yes, all of these things are for Him.

Buechner says many wonderful and thought provoking things in his books. But the most profound, the one that he himself points to as his main point, is "Listen to your life."

Because God meets us in the drudge. He is here with us in the daily grind. When we feed our family, we're serving Him. Colossians 3:23 says that whatever you do, do it with all your strength, as though you're doing it for Him, not just for other people.

And when we do these simple little things for Him, we're assured in 1 Cor 15:58 that they're not useless. They are our purpose. What is purpose? Well, think of a can opener. What is the purpose of a can opener? It's obvious, right? That's what it was made for. Our purpose is what WE were made for. And it's not the same for each of us.

You were made for something in particular, and only you (with His help) can figure out what that is. Don't stress about finding out what it is. Just ask. And keep doing the daily grind... that's part of what we were ALL made for. But in addition to the eating and the sleeping and the cleaning... you were made for something more.

What is it?

Thank You, God, for our daily purpose (which is never useless) and for our higher purpose, which You delight in helping us find.

2 comments:

Julie said...

Right on again.

Laura said...

That spoke to me! Thanks God and jefe!