What Then Are We?
Good Morning Friends,
Teamwork enables us to become more effective than individual efforts alone. But in this work of building the kingdom, God reserves a task that is His alone, and it shines brighter than all the rest. It is God that makes the seed of faith to grow and it is only God that does this. What Then Are We?
Scripture: What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 (NRSV)
What are human beings, that you make so much of them, that you set your mind on them, visit them every morning, test them every moment? Will you not look away from me for a while, let me alone until I swallow my spittle? If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of humanity? Why have you made me your target? Why have I become a burden to you?
Job 7:17-20 (NRSV)
I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:12-13 (NRSV)
Message: Spiritual maturity is great, but maturity alone does not make us automatically more useful than others. Sometimes maturity comes at the price of suffering. Hurt can draw us to God. But it can also push us away. God whispers to us in our pleasures but shouts to us in our pain. Thankfully God, in time, causes all things to work together for good. So pain can draw us together. And the closer we get to God the more we become aware of our own sinfulness. Friends, we are amazingly selfish creatures and sometimes we try to avoid growth. But growth is a lifelong process that requires endurance and self-discipline. Ultimately it is not something to be avoided. Eventually we learn that God helps those who admit their own helplessness… that faith helps us to stand under God’s sovereignty even when we have no idea what God is doing. Here we learn that we cannot take credit for the supernatural work of God. Here we learn that God is calling us to grow, but what is equally important is that He is calling us to grow in unity into His very image. Indeed how good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity…in the love which binds us together. But to achieve this same mind and same Spirit we cannot stand on legalism. Our strength is admitting our weakness. In our diversity of pain and disappointment we must find His gain and appointment. We must stick together as a team…as bricks held together with His mortar. We must build each other up as a body made up of many parts. Because each one of us, in our own way reflects the image of God…because we are unique in our abilities and maturity…because we have different roles, each is important in God’s eyes. And each has an opportunity to serve to the glory of God but none of this is automatic. Blessings come to those who love God in spite of the pain of their lives.
Pray that we not struggle to give the glory to God. Pray we let our light shine before men so that they may see that our work glorifies only God. Pray we find our place and purpose in His powerful love. Pray this purpose is present in our hearts and minds every day. Pray the pain we experience draws us to our best selves and even toward heaven.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 