First comes the doctrine, the teaching, the great, revolutionary, radical facts that God is setting before us. Verse Concepts. This is from the introduction to a book by Dr.John McKay, for many years the president of Princeton University: I can never forget that the reading of this Pauline letter when I was a boy in my teens exercised a more decisive influence upon my thought and imagination than was ever wrought upon me before or since by the perusal of any piece of literature. This contractor had recently lost his young daughter in a freakish and sudden passing, and the company that he worked for wanted to dedicate the building to her memory. And it just might be a profound way you see God work. If you dont beat it then its going to beat you! Lord, help us by thy grace to rejoice, to lay hold of your provision, and to be responsive instruments in your hand; in Jesus' name we ask, Amen. You have a great message to share with other people, and it might stir them to make the most of work and life. Others searched frenetically for a gift shop or a bathroom. God I want to know you. Has your discouragement stopped your from believing that God is at work? They express outwardly what we believe inwardly. 15 Scriptures To Help With Hopelessness Grace is charming, lovely, pleasant. In yesterday's Life for Leaders devotion, I began reflecting on the relevance for us of Joseph's talking about God in his conversation with Pharaoh.As you may recall, when Pharaoh mentioned Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, Joseph said, "It . Love your workmates, and point them to the great Burden Bearer. It is not something that God is going to do, but something he has already done. No matter your position, or the unique challenges of your workplace, God is interested in what you do and how you do it. He shapes and He molds, For to Him, I belong. All progress in the spiritual life comes by understanding a truth which is already true. That is because, as Paul will describe in this letter, there is imparted to us the Holy Spirit of God, and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit so that we can't quit! Free.Sign up and download: godatwork.org.uk/conversations Let me offer this little primer in Godly Art Reflection 101, to help each of us see and reflect God the craftsman and artist: Theme: Art is the expression of a seeing heart through attentive hands. 12. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. . In this world you will have trouble. 100+ Inspirational Bible Verses About Love Did he say useful? It may be of interest to you to notice that, in his letter to the Colossians, Paul refers to a letter from Laodicea. Use the pain to grow! Lord, why do You cast off my soul? I said yes, because of 1 Corinthians 10:31, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.. God is teaching through you and He is using you in your suffering. Work places are webs of relationships. In reality, the workforce is not only how God works through you; it is a place where God works inside of you, conforming you to the image of Christ. It might seem odd to think of God as an artist or craftsman. It has begun in us. So I'm going to conclude this introductory message by examining the great statement which Paul makes at the beginning of this letter and which gathers up the great themes of Ephesians to which he will return again and again. Perhaps the reason you are in an office with people who have little regard for God, the products they make, or the way they work is because they struggle with a motivation to work and with direction for how to work. What Does The Bible Say About Forgiveness? He has already begun. What Does The Bible Say About Mental Health? Exodus 14:11-12 They said to Moses, Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? Website 2023 by Ray Stedman Ministries. Verse Concepts. God at Work God works in specific and powerful ways. 22 Encouraging Verses For A Bad Day 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Dont work to earn to have. John 13:7 Jesus replied, You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.. The minute I said that, he acknowledged it: "You're right. It was written to the Christians in the Roman province of Asia. 100 Inspirational Bible Verses About Thankfulness To God, 25 Verses To Help Identify Fake Friends But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.". And then the last: were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. It hurts now, but just wait for Him. He makes this clear in all his letters. Exodus 3:16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt., 8. Will You work wonders for the dead? And, as he tells us in his letter to the Galatians, the Lord Jesus appeared to him directly. 25. These convictions come from our theology of vocation the belief that all Christians are called (vocatio) by virtue of their Baptism to participate in God's work to care for . Zephaniah 3:5. This is not the activity of men that we are talking about. Use the pain to grow! Take an interest in others at work. Corporate shaping. Even when you dont see it, Even when you cant feel it, Even if its not evident. The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potters hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him. 2 attorney answers Posted on Dec 21, 2017 There are two legal rules that govern your situation. Seek God! The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Come, go down to the potters house, and there I will let you hear my words. So I went down to the potters house, and there he was working at his wheel. God loves you and wants you to experience the peace and life He offers. What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Moses answered the people, Do not be afraid. It is all Gods, not yours. To be truly a thing of beauty, art must reflect the God who is truly good. John 14:1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Even if you have to cry your eyes out just trust God. Message transcript and recording 1972 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. Then comes the invariable greeting of Paul to these groups of believers: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." Lord, I have called daily upon You;I have stretched out my hands to You. Whether it is finding creative solutions to problems, bringing imagination and wonder to your parenting style, or lovingly shaping the environment of your neighborhood, workplace, or home, I believe that we are to do everything like those cathedral craftsmen carving the backs of gargoyles for Notre Dame: doing it for Gods approval and delight. Once again, our Father, we pray that you will take away the dimness from our vision, the dullness from our understanding, and help us to comprehend these great themes which have changed the history of the world again and again as men have grasped them. And when we try to draw or paint, or sculpt something, we fail. As one who works in a center belonging to a theological seminary, I talk about God all the time, like in this devotion, for example. Many feel that this is that letter. Gods people drew upon the crafts of the dayof silver and blacksmiths with their fiery furnaces, of potters shaping and formingto talk about the way they experienced God at work in the world and in their lives. What Does The Bible Say About Homosexuality? That is a mark of a believer in Christ. Many scholars, therefore, feel that this is a circular letter which was written to many churches, probably those in the region of Ephesus. He is using the difficulties and pressures in your job right now to focus you in at least six areas. But this is a start. But spiritual thinking is always God-centered, and, therefore, true, and to the extent that it is spiritual, it is true in every way. Also characteristic of Paul is to gather everything up in one great prefatory statement, and then break it down into its detail. They might say no, but they might appreciate your noble desire to make yourself and the workplace better. Be still for just a moment so you can realize that help is on the way, I have surely seen the affliction of My people, I am aware of their sufferings. Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do." Genesis 41:25. America's greatness is going to fade, as is Russia's, and as is that of all the nations of the earth. This is a great way to talk about God with the people in your everyday life. Paul gloried in the fact that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ. GRACE: Because our life is now in Jesus . Joyfully. Love. Ephesians has changed my life again and again: It was from this book that I learned how the body of Christ functions. Far flung, our navies melt away, on dune and headland sinks the fire. He came to me and challenged me in the writings of St.Paul. 21. If so, what would that prayer sound like today. Dorothy Sayers said, No crooked table legs or ill-fitting drawersever, I dare swear, came out of the carpenters shop at Nazareth.. This is a list, if you like, of the incompetencies of man. What Does The Bible Say About Fake Christians? To gaze into the eyes of another and not just at them. Teaching us all things means God is working in us and exposing the things that we need to know. Ive had people tell me prayer doesnt work and that was clearly the spirit of unbelief talking. Your work and how you do it affects other people. There is something about suffering that changes you. That is what Paul is talking about here. I love God more than ever. Psalm 23:4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, Christian Productivity: How To Rest Without Feeling Guilty, 20 Reasons Why God Is Allowing Trials In Your Life. Christs love set him in motion to do great things. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. Get up and fight! All this comes to us in Christ, in the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus himself. Sharing your faith with others and talking about God at work is one way you can fulfill the Great Commission. Then, as I sat staring at the beauty of this piece of handiwork, it dawned on me that the artist who had carved it so many centuries ago, never expected that the back of this sculpture would be seen. He is going to work in us humility, kindness, mercy, long-suffering, and more. God's people drew upon the crafts of the dayof silver and blacksmiths with their fiery furnaces, of potters shaping and formingto talk about the way they experienced God at work in the world and in their lives. Let those who love their salvation say continually, Great is the Lord! The truth which he imparts to us here he learned directly from Jesus Christ. When we are listless in our work. No! Get up in the morning and let God know your desperation for him. I looked down and realized that I was gazing at the back of an intricate sculpture of a gargoyle on a ledge high above the street. 100+ Inspirational Bible Verses About Love In Exodus 3:16 God said I am concerned about you. God wasnt punishing the Israelites. They thought to themselves weve heard it all before, but we are still in these trials. Has your discouragement stopped your from believing that God is at work? And that is his authority. He has a different lifestyle. Every experience is part of His divine plan., Gods work done in Gods way will never lack Gods supply. Hudson Taylor. Seeing and Reflecting God the Craftsman and Artist: Starts with seeing Is expressed in shaping Produces something beautiful and useful Conclusion: To reflect God the Artist, you must first see yourself as a work of art. He is the author of. Why do You hide Your face from me? 100 Inspirational Bible Verses About Thankfulness To God, 15 Scriptures To Help With Hopelessness In other words, all of life, culture, and work is to reflect the beauty and glory of God. Exodus 3:7-9 The Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. What Does The Bible Say About Fear? We dont ultimately work for our own pleasure, entertainment, self-improvement, or gain. If you like reading the Theology of Work Bible Commentary free online, you might enjoy it in print!An in-depth Bible study tool put together by of biblical scholars, pastors and workplace Christians to help you discover what Isaiah through Malachi say about work. I am the Lord.Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor. So, I briefly explained our purpose in gathering, looking (to no avail) for some sign that they appreciated this little ceremony. 23. You generally have the right to talk about your religion - it's typically okay to say that you belong to a particular faith or that you observe certain holidays or holy days. The letter is commonly called "The Epistle to the Ephesians," but, as a footnote in the Revised Standard Version points out, this is not found in many of the ancient manuscripts. He chose, he destined usin him, we have redemptionhas made known to us his will. It teaches us how to come to grips with life as it is. We wouldnt be able to breathe! All this will be developed in fuller detail as we go on into the letter. Doja Cat has faced criticism for working with Dr. Luke in the past, but now the "Say So" artist has seemingly distanced herself from the producer.. Why Don't Christians Expose Evil Anymore? What Does The Bible Say About Trusting God? When we are beaten down and uninspired. He is working on you too., You are where God wants you to be at this very moment. March 25, 2020 John 5:16-23 How do we know the Lord is at work? Haggai 2:4. (Ephesians 1:11-12 RSV). Answer As followers of Christ, there are many reasons why we should be eager to share our faith in all circumstances. He had eyes to see where God already was playing in Athens. These are the two characteristics which ought to mark Christians all the time: Grace -- God at work in their life; and peace -- a sense of security, of trust. Do all you have to do without grumbling or arguing, so that, you may be blameless and harmless, faultless children of God, living in a warped and diseased age, and shining like lights in a dark world. First and foremost, the call that God has for you is to call you into a relationship with Him. Are you bringing together, or breaking up? What Does The Bible Say About Haters? In some cases, yes. When we are tempted to reward the abrasiveness of our boss with subpar work, this is when we remember, Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).
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