Only if I feel like it?

When I told one of my relatives that I was busy doing this and that, she replied, “I’ve reached the place in my life where I won’t do anything unless I feel like it. I am doing only what I want to do.”

This reminded me of an artist who painted in the cold of Alberta winters, usually in his car with it running to keep his paints from freezing. He said, “I’ve learned that if I let the weather keep me from my work, before long I would never go outside.”

He is right. I can always find reasons to not do things. I’m tired, or it takes too long, or I’d rather sit with my feet up. The more challenging the chore, the more excuses to procrastinate, or to bypass it entirely.

Paul wrote to a young pastor and told him what God says about the work he was doing . . .

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1–2, italics mine)

God would eventually evaluate Timothy’s life, not for salvation, but for rewards. One factor in that evaluation would be this man’s readiness to do things whether it was an opportune time or not, and whether he felt like it or not.

Chambers says Christians who pick and choose their obedience by how they feel are called “unemployables” in the kingdom of God. They refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired, and since God does not play that game, they wind up becoming useless.

Chambers goes on to say that the proof of being rightly related to God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not. This is a good word for me on a dreary Monday morning with a chore list that includes a pile of laundry that needs sorting and washing. I’d rather do almost anything else.

Chambers tells how easy it is to make those rare moments of ‘inspiration and insight’ a requirement for life. After a time of spiritual fullness, I might find myself saying that this is how I will serve God from now on. The trouble is, I cannot control that. I cannot press a button or make a decision to be on any sort of spiritual mountaintop. It is God who gifts me and puts me at my best. I should never make a god of those best moments.

It takes self-discipline (another gift from the Holy Spirit) to do the tasks at hand, and do them as well as I can. If He chooses to give my efforts the wonderful gift of ‘flying high’ in the work, I’m to receive it with gratitude and give Him glory. If not, I’m to ask for His blessing on the results — then obey Him and do the work even if I don’t feel like it.

My ambition or His motivation?

Paul was one of those rare Christians who did it all. Almost everyone else does only what fits their gifts and opportunities. That is, each Christian seldom does it all: preaches, prophesies, teaches, leads, forms churches, takes care of widows and orphans, visits the sick and those in prison, prays constantly, evangelizes, gives generously, goes to the mission field, disciples numerous new believers, write books and songs, build hospitals, and so on. While the spiritually ambitious might want to be that prolific, there are not enough hours in a day!

Chambers warns about being snared by this kind of “spiritual success” for it is a snare, just as much as being caught up in worldliness is a snare. He points out that the disciples were warned about it by Jesus:

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

They were glowing in their power and Jesus told them it was better to glory in the reality of their salvation. Chambers calls this “the commercial view” where Christians look for evidence like ‘bigger, better, more’ to affirm or evaluate their work. He says our labor begins where God’s grace has laid the foundation; He saves souls; we must disciple them. I agree that one life devoted to the Lord is of more value to God than one hundred lives who have simply prayed the sinner’s prayer. This is because of Jesus’ command:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

Yet teaching others what the Lord has taught me can take many forms: a mentoring relationship, formal Bible study classes, informal time spent with other Christians, and so on. I can disciple other Christians, but sometimes God asks me to do a few of the other things on that list of Christian ministry. For me, no one thing has become a full-time occupation.

Rather than get caught up in the idea that I must do it all, I’m convinced that I am responsible to whatever God directs me to do, regardless of how insignificant it might seem. Those who claim His directions come from Scripture are correct, but again, it is physically impossible to do all of it. Instead, as I abide in Him and He lives in me, He makes known to me what to do and when to do it, some simple tasks and some more challenging.

Yesterday, He directed us to drop everything and spend a couple hours with our granddaughter. Later, it was clear that we needed rest. This morning, I’m to write these thoughts and later publish them to the Internet. I’m listening to Him because the next thing will likely be worship, but today He could also add prayer, counseling someone on the phone, preparing a gift for someone who is needy, or visiting an elderly friend.

The point is not making my own agenda based on a motivation of ‘spiritual success’ but being moved by the Spirit of God to do whatever He wants me to do, and those chores are often unexpected.

Being His disciple means that He is the One who determines the course of my Christian life, not some lofty standard set by my own ambition. Besides, I love His surprises!

Christ in my work, even my hobbies

A hobby is usually some pastime that takes the mind off daily chores and responsibilities. The focus is on the task at hand, whether golfing, model building, or sewing. However, there is no record that Jesus, His disciples, or the Apostle Paul ever took a day off to fly kites. Yet regardless of what they did for leisure, the Bible has plenty to say about daily work and ordinary activities.

For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)

In its context, this verse refers to those actively engaged in building the kingdom of God. He is their partner in the work for no man can do this without Him. However, there are other verses about work, even about other ordinary activities like eating, drinking, and by implication, hobbies.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23–24)

Chambers says I should beware of any work for God which enables me to evade concentration on Him. These verses tell me that I should also beware of doing anything that does not consider Jesus as my Lord and Savior. This includes my activities as a quilter. Even though I often pray while cutting and piecing fabric, I am aware how easily that activity can pull my mind away from everything else, even God.

Chambers also says a great many Christian workers can go to the extreme by worshiping their work. Again, these verses suggest that such worship cannot be limited to Christian ministry. Even though many complain about their jobs, some people do ‘worship’ their work, and some even ‘worship’ their hobbies. While enjoyment of work is okay, the Bible says that God gives that enjoyment — my worship should never slide from Him to adulation of any joyful activities that He gives me.

Another thought is relating work to play. A child plays (which is ‘work’ for him) with delight and without any regard for it being tedious. If my activity is no longer joyful, it can soon be resented. This child can become tired, frustrated, even angry. It also happens to employees, and to those engaged in their hobbies.

For example, some say about quilting, “I’ve no patience for that.” They do not know the joy of it, and perhaps do not experience the Lord’s joy in other ‘work-related’ activities. They certainly haven’t realized that patience isn’t required to experience pleasure in work or a hobby, only the ability look to God in the doing of it. He gives joy and can make work more like child play.

That can change, and if it does then my hobby or other activities become empty, without freedom and without delight. If my mind and body become burdened by them, I need to examine my motivations and again rely on God for the blessing of Himself in my work.

Yet as Chambers says, there is another side to this joy from God. When my concentration is on Him, and when all of life is free and under His dominance, and when I trust in Him alone, I can feel alone. If that sense of aloneness gets to me, then I could also bog down. My responsibility is to keep in constant touch with God, without anything hindering my relationship with Him.

All that annoys or frustrates goes away when I remember that Jesus Christ set me free to pour out whole-hearted devotion — in doing whatever my hands finds to do. 

Seeing Jesus in His children

God uses other Christians in our lives as sign posts so we can see Him, but sign posts are not stopping places.

For me, the first one was a lovely mentor who showed me the wisdom and grace of God. She started me on my Christian journey and helped me experience what it means to be part of His family.

The most recent signpost was a friend in whose presence I experienced the presence of Jesus and His unconditional love and affection. The Lord knew that I needed a visual and used this person to let me see the encouraging and tender heart of God.

Both are gone. One died, the other moved away. I am saddened, but also understand this was necessary. It is easy to depend on people, even to the point they become ‘my Jesus’ and distract me from the glory of the Lord. Instead of relying on their wisdom or grace, even their presence, I am to look into the face of Jesus. He is the source of wisdom, grace, tenderness, love and affection. While His people soften my heart, He is the One who changes my life.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Chambers reminds me that God’s people experience these blessings from others, but disheartening comes too. Those who used to be lights flicker out. Some who used to stand with me pass on. The lessons are wonderful, but eventually He wants me to become so accustomed to this coming and going that I am not bothered when I realize that I am standing alone.

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (2 Timothy 4:16–17)

Paul held no resentment to being deserted. It did not matter to him whether they had abandoned him or mere circumstances people them away. He knew that the Lord was with him. He also knew that God did all this so he would be better equipped to fulfill his ministry of proclaiming the gospel. He would also be better able to resist the enemy who loves to whisper discouragements such as, “You are all by yourself and you are so alone.”

In this, his faith grew because he didn’t place it in the support of his friends, but in Jesus Christ. When those who supported no longer are here, God intended them to go. Those departures make me sad, yet it is important that I look in the face of God for myself —He will never leave me or forsake me.

Chambers says that I must not allow anything to keep me from looking into the face of God. I’m to gaze at Him in everything I think, say, and do. If I do that, then His glory will continue to transform my life.

Moses was a friend of God. At first, he didn’t realize that his face shone when he talked with the Lord. That shining face was a fearful thing to the people. But Moses began to realize when the glory faded though, and then he put a veil over his face so they would not see that happen.

This is sad because we are to come to Him and to one another with an unveiled face. Far too many of us put on masks so the real person cannot be seen. We need to remember that because Christ lives in us, any mask will also prevent His glory from shining through.

My two examples above were people who never wore masks. Their lives were transparent — and because of that, I could see Jesus in them. If that was the only reason for them being part of my life for a little while, then I rejoice. This is what He means by beholding His glory with an unveiled face. All that masks do is keep me from seeing Jesus in others, and keep others from seeing His reflection in me. 

He bore my hurts

This morning I said to the Lord something like “I don’t want to hurt you” and was astonished at the response. He said, “You can’t hurt me.”

The next thought was that Jesus bore all the pain of all sin for all time on the cross. It is finished. He who died for all sin can no longer be affected by it. If He feels pain, it is not because we have injured Him, but because we are injuring someone or ourselves and His pain is for us, not for Himself.

When opening today’s devotional reading, I was surprised that Chambers writes about ‘hurting’ Jesus with our unbelief and foolish questions. He begins with this conversation . . . 

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9)

Chambers says Philip expected that seeing God would be the revelation of a tremendous mystery, not the seeing of Jesus whom he knew. He also says that when Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father, he was probably hurting Him. Chambers says, “If we are asking God to give us experiences, or if conscious experience is in the road, we hurt the Lord. The very questions we ask hurt Jesus because they are not the questions of a child.” His implication is that lack of trust for Him feels the same for Him as I do when others don’t trust me. I am hurt, but I’m not hurting because they have a suspicious nature, but because I am offended.

Prior to the cross, Jesus may have experienced pre-crucifixion pain, but again, it would be for the sin of unbelief, not something like, “You don’t believe me and that really hurts me.”

I can’t find any Bible passages that indicate Jesus was in pain except at the cross. However, there are several verses about how my sinfulness affects the Holy Spirit:

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) When I sin, I am forgetting who I belong to, and that makes Him sad.

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them. (Isaiah 63:10) My sin not only saddens God, but puts Him in the position of disciplining me so I can become obedient.

Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19) In context, this is describes the way I am supposed to live — in harmony with God rather than resisting Him and giving Him reason to feel sorrow because I have stifled His fire in my life.

Thinking that I cannot hurt Jesus should make me feel good, or at least less burdened about my sinfulness, but it has the opposite effect. I feel pain that I can resist Him, grieve or sadden Him, stifle or put out His fire in my life, all because I realize that any pain in the heart of God is for me, not for Himself.

God’s power, not mine

Thinking of the challenges of life as a golfer thinks about his game has been a good illustration for me. Most golfers return to the links, not because they are always making perfect shots, but because they do so now and then. That is, they know they can do better, so they persist.

A Christian persists too, but for different reasons. We are given the power of God. As He told Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

As Chambers notes, we must never measure our spiritual capacity by education or by intellect or any other natural resources. As suggested in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25), God gives those resources to us. Our capacity is measured by the promises of God. The servants who receive talents also must rely on God for their use. To do otherwise is a blatant declaration against the power of God.

The one servant who proved unfaithful said things like: “You expect more than You give me the power to do” and “You demand too much of me” and “You are too demanding and I cannot obey You.” These are expressions of doubt, even blasphemy. When God gives us the Holy Spirit, He expects that power to be used, not our own power which compared to His is mere and measly weakness. The only reason for not living in His power is an independent spirit, which is the definition of sin.

God said I am to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then He will add all these things. The context of that promise refers to material needs, but the rest of Scripture is clear: God will not leave me helpless when He asks of me a challenging or even a small task. Paul said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) Paul multiplied his talents because he believed in the power and promises of God and lived accordingly.

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Chambers says that lazy people express an independent attitude every time they fail to get up and move. He also says that our capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. I conclude that if I am not living to my capacity, it is because I doubt the promises of God. My score card may disappoint me at times, but because of the One who sent me out, and because of His grace that I’ve made a few well-placed shots, I know that I can do whatever He wants me to do.