For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
Bosses are very good at telling employees what is expected of them. The work is detailed out and we are rightly expected to fulfil our role for the good of the company. The boss, for the most part, remains behind closed doors overseeing the whole operation and making sure each department is achieving their objectives. They may, on occasion, visit the shop floor or walk through the office to say ‘hello’, but they don’t pull up a chair beside you and help with phone calls or typing up invoices. That is not part of their job description and we accept that this is how hierarchy works.
As Christians we are also rightly expected to fulfil our role for the good of the company/the family business, also known as, the kingdom of God. We work for God himself and we serve for his good pleasure, but there is a huge difference between earthly work and heavenly work. With earthly work, we are generally left to get on with things ourselves, and we can often transfer this work ethic into our heavenly work. We forget that our service to God is not a solo gig.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19–20
Jesus said, ‘I am with you always.’ The work has been detailed out, but we are not left to get on with things ourselves. This is a partnership, not a boss/employee relationship. When we go where He wants us to go, and do what He wants us to do, we become the hands, the feet and the voice of Jesus. We do so, in a real way, because He lives within us and works through us. Look again at today’s verse and appreciate this truth – ‘it is God who works in you.’
As we serve the Lord, in whatever shape or form that takes, we are not only doing it for Him – we are doing it with Him.
Narrow Path Ministries 