Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- February 3, 2014
So I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3
God’s great work is where He’s got you now. His mission for you is in the moment, not some mystical opportunity that tingles the flesh somewhere in the future. Faith flourishes when it is focused on the task at hand. Like a sculptor with a block of marble not yet hewn, the beginning of the Lord’s project may lack form and void. Though unseen, your soul sees what the Spirit has in store, if you persevere. God’s great work deserves a relentless engagement of energy.
The leader who models the way, shows the way. If we wander away from our responsibilities some team members will lose focus. The speed of the leader is the speed of the team. The interest of the leader is the interest of the team. The intensity of the leader is the intensity of the team. Like a rising tide lifts all boats, so the faith of the leader lifts the faith of all team members. A great work is sustained by great leaders who remain engaged in the execution of the mission.
“He [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him” (John 13:5).
Like with Nehemiah, distractors will send disingenuous messengers to create a diversion. They seek to strike fear into the team, so they stumble to complete the project. Seeds of doubtful questions are planted. Has the Lord really called me to finish this task? Is the sacrifice worth what I receive in the end? Am I just being used? Are the motives of the leaders really noble? Is all this effort worth carrying on to completion? Yes, great works survive a crisis of doubt.
Furthermore, your Heavenly Father is your biggest fan to push through pain and gain His blessing. The Holy Spirit will give you the courage to have a hard conversation with an unfair critic. Your Savior Jesus Christ is your example of how to confront the enemy in prayer and with God’s Word. A great work requires a greater depth of character and a righteous resolve to remain in the process. It is a great work, because God is at work. Work with Him, bring Him great glory!
“I [Jesus] have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, by faith keep me focused on Your work for Your glory.
Related Readings: Genesis 2:2-3; Psalm 90:17; John 6:27-29; Acts 14:26; 1 John 3:8
Post/Tweet today: Like a rising tide lifts all boats, so the faith of the leader lifts the team’s faith. #God’sgreatwork
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