Called to Business

“So lets stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.” (Hebrews 6:1)

There comes a time where we should stop being fed and start feeding others—a time where we become part of the solution. There is infinite depth in an understanding of God. It is an opportunity to commune with a presence beyond our understanding, yet often we settle for so much less.

What a wonderful opportunity to seek wisdom, favour and insights for our workplace or business. He knows all, sees all, and understands all things. What a wonderful Counsellor.

Let’s take the time to move on from the basics and push on to be all we can be. We have a responsibility to ourselves, those around us, and our loving Creator. How often are our prayers a self-interested list of needs and wants? While God does ask us to bring all our concerns to Him, try a prayer time when you only pray for others.

Quick Prayer. “Lord help me to move on from the basics and be all I can be.” Amen

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

God will always give you all you need to fulfill His will. It would be very unreasonable to do anything else. Sometimes He will allow us to come to the end of ourselves so that we know we need a heavenly Father and that we cannot do it all in our own strength. I’ve been around that ‘mulberry bush’ a few times!

Sometimes I have been in situations where I had no idea what to do and found wisdom. At other times I have been in need of grace toward others and found a new depth of grace and mercy. Whatever you need He has already provided. Go to Him and appropriate all that you need.

He provides what we need, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to do what He has called us to do.

Quick Prayer. “Thank you for your abundant provision.” Amen

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Hebrews 6:10)

God has seen your faithfulness. He has seen all you have done and are doing. He will not forget your work. Your answer is coming. Daniel had to wait to see an answer that was dispatched the moment he prayed. We don’t understand how it all works or the mechanism of prayer, but we do know He is faithful.

He will watch over His Word to see that it is fulfilled. When we stand in agreement with His Word, we literally pull the promises from the spiritual into the physical. It is in our faith that the answers to prayer are born. This is what it means to have ‘Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven”.

It is because of Who He is that we can count on Him. He is the full manifestation of all it is to be faithful. We put our trust in His character; He is not a man that He should lie. Your answer is on its way!

Quick Prayer. “Thank you for your faithfulness, and that you honour your word.” Amen

“Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:30)

It is easy to become paralyzed by the scam artists, the fraudster and the false beggars. Soon enough we won’t give to anyone for fear of being ripped of or swindled. Jesus had a novel approach. Let it go and just give.

I met a great Salvation Army man and asked him about this. His response was sure use some discernment, but he  would rather give to ten and be ripped off by nine, if it meant the genuine case was ministered to. What a refreshing view in a cynical world, and very much in line with Jesus suggestion, or was it an instruction?

Look for the opportunity to share Jesus’ love at work today. There will be at least one.

Quick Prayer. “Fill me with grace, to give and not judge.” Amen

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16)

This is what it is all about. The core of what we believe. But familiarity often breeds contempt. Take a moment to read with fresh eyes the familiar words, with such a poignant meaning. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, and the expression of an incomprehensible love that is so wide, so deep, and so complete, that we cannot begin to understand its total, absolute, and monumental enormity.

It is for all history, the perfect expression of perfect love. The enormity of the sacrifice cannot be understood by mortal man nor the consequences of rejecting this indescribable gift.

Others need to know what we have heard and experienced. Let the love of others overcome the fear of opening up and letting them know.

Quick Prayer. “Thank you Jesus, for the ultimate sacrifice.” Amen

“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” (1 Chr 29:17)

Do you ever feel that you are being tested? Are you going to do the right thing? What about that thing that just popped into your head? You know, the thing you know you should really be doing but are reluctant to do?

Do the right thing, and let God sort out what happens next. Let the consequences be what they may, and be obedient to His call of integrity. As we move in obedience, He can release the most unexpected blessings.

Integrity counts. When we have integrity in the small, seemingly insignificant things, we prepare ourselves for being faithful in the larger temptations and challenges. If you feel like you are being tested, it is probably because you are.

If you want God’s blessing and results, you have do it God’s way.

Just as His ways are above our ways, so is His agenda. If we respond to His prompting, we will follow His plan and purpose for our lives. Live in integrity and live in blessing.

Quick Prayer: Help me to maintain integrity in all I do and say. Amen.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” (1 Chronicles 29:14)

God gives us excess to be able to give. He is the ultimate giver, He gave His Son. All we have is His, lets hold on to it knowing that He may have uses for it elsewhere, and be faithful as stewards of all He has given us.

Just as he is generous, so He calls us to reflect His nature. As we spend time with Him and are obedient to His word and promptings we begin to be shaped and moulded by His character.

We ought to be known for our generosity just as He is. We are merely a reflection of His nature and character as we are transformed into His image.

Quick Prayer. “Help me to hold on loosely to all that is yours anyway.” Amen

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Take a moment to ponder the infinite splendor of our great creator, maker of the universe, master of the infinite detail in all around us. His glory is indeed revealed in the sunrise, the sky, the sea and the beautiful order of nature. Take a moment to wait in awe of your Creator, who knew you, and loved you, even before you were knit together in your mothers womb.

This is the God we serve, this is the God who says “no weapon formed against you will prosper”, this is the God who says “I will provide.”

Is any problem you are facing too great, that He cannot fix it? Is there any problem too small, He is not interested in it? No!

Nothing is impossible for God, and He is for you, not against you. Rest in Him, trust in Him, commit yourself afresh to Him.

Quick Prayer. “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.” Amen

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”(Matthew 6:33)

Chasing after all that worldly stuff? What shall I wear, what shall I eat?

Jesus said don’t worry; get busy with that which I have called you to do, and I will sort out all that other stuff. Make my work your priority and you won’t have to worry about all the things ungodly people fret about. That is a terrible paraphrase but the essence is true. As we get our focus on God’s priorities, our needs are met by a loving, providing God. He is indeed “El Shaddai”, the God of more than enough.

He is the one who made the stars with a word, the one who has every hair on your head numbered, the one who feeds the birds and provides the rain. He is not a man that He may lie, He will provide. Will you trust Him? Focus on His business and He will meet you needs, and give you the very desires of your heart!

Quick Prayer. “Help me to put you first in all I do.” Amen

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19-21)

There is a reward for Kingdom investment, a reward with eternal value. As the great song Amazing Grace says, “when we’ve been there 10,000 years……”. What a great perspective, for our life is incomprehensibly short compared with our eternal life.

The value of what we do and the reward for what we do, and how we spend and where we invest, should reflect the temporal nature of our earthly existence.

We are merely stewards of God’s gifts, talents and resources. There will be an accounting and a reward, and then “all earthly things will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”.

Quick Prayer. “Remind me of all that is important from an eternal perspective.” Amen