WORD FOR TODAY SERIES - DOES GOD CARE? S57E07

 

TOPIC: DOES GOD CARE WHAT JOB I HAVE?

KEY BIBLE VERSE: _Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,_

Colossians 3:23 AM

_Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]._

*Proverbs 16:3 AMP*

*Make Sacrifices*

A couple of months ago, I met Parker—a tall, lanky man with stylish glasses and laid-back hipster apparel. We had only talked once before in passing. My friend and I had encouraged him to come to church. Now, he sat in the pew behind us a month later, sharing a bit of his story.

He told us that as he drew closer to God over the course of the past month, the Lord had convicted him of a major source of pride and idolatry: his job.

Parker was a “coffee consultant” (remember his laid-back hipster attire?), and his job consumed too much of his life. So, he quit so he could focus on spiritual growth. He wanted to return to his roots as a plain-old barista for a while, a humbler, lower-positioned job.

Similarly, you may need to downgrade for a season of soul-searching.

John Newton was pressed into service in the British Navy in 1743. Later, he became a slave in Africa, was rescued, then became a first mate on a slave ship, witnessing the slave trade’s evil firsthand from both sides.

Eventually, he devoted his life to Jesus and studied to become a preacher at thirty years old. He tried to become an Anglican priest but had to wait for seven years before he was ordained. As a preacher, he flourished, writing hymns and shepherding a large church. Much later, he became an avid abolitionist and wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace.”

It’s never too late to find your calling.

Saul was a tentmaker and trained as a religious leader, a Pharisee. With zeal, he began persecuting what he perceived as a cult of Jewish blasphemers (Christians). He fought for their imprisonment and oversaw Stephen’s execution. Then, Jesus struck him with a divine vision. He became Paul the Apostle, devoted to Jesus, a powerful evangelist, a widespread church planter, and the most prolific writer of the New Testament.

God works in mysterious, shocking ways.

My barber worked in a well-known coffee shop chain for over a decade. While a believer at that time, he eventually had to repent from personal sins and dealt with a painful divorce. Through this time of renewal, he found a more fulfilling work through the barber’s craft.

Career shifts can be a part of Christ-centered life changes.

Remember the wisdom from Proverbs: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

And above all, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

This is the END OF THIS TEACHING, PLS STAY TUNED FOR NEXT EPISODE COMING UP SOON!

REMEMBER, WE LOVE YOU BUT GOD LOVES YOU MORE, STAY BLESSED, FOCUSED AND BE DETERMINED TO MAKE IMPACT IN YOUR WORLD!