Around the beginning of this month, our youth leaders came to me, and asked me if I would be willing to be the teen girls' Counselor for camp this year. They had prayed about this, and felt the Lord had laid me on their heart to ask to do the "job". I'll admit, at first I was reluctant to say yes, knowing I would be out of my comfort zone while being sick, and not having phone service to get in touch with my mom or doctor if necessary. But I prayed about it, and decided that the Lord wanted me to go.
I think my favorite part of camp was getting to do devotions with the girls every night before bed. I definitely enjoyed the classes and preaching, and all the games and fun we had; but at the end of the day, getting to hear what was on the girls' hearts and how the Lord was working in their lives always made my day worth it! On our last night together, I decided instead of just reading together, we would do a testimony and prayer time. During this time, the girls had some questions about the things we had talked about that week. After answering one of them, one of the other girls made a comment about "being glad the Lord wouldn't show our sins on a screen in Heaven, and that our works, though 'shown', would be rewarded". She reminded me of a poem I had read in my Literature book my junior year. The poem was about a man who had lived his life, and died and gone to Heaven; but when he got to Heaven and Peter showed him his mansion, there was only a small cabin standing there. The man asked Peter where his mansion was, and Peter replied "We used all the building materials you sent us". The thought behind the poem being, what are you doing for Christ here on earth, that's bearing fruit or rewards for Heaven? Now, I know that the cabin part isn't true, because the Lord promises us all that we will have mansions in glory; but it is a good thought. So, we talked about continuing to do things for the Lord when we returned home, and serving Him in everything we do, even the small things. A couple days later, I was reading my devotions (my brother also gave me a devotional book for my Graduation that I read out of daily), and I read this:
"'All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards." ~Numbers 2:31
The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the march. The Danites occupied the hindmost place, but what mattered the position, since they were as truly part of the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Come, my heart, cheer up, though last and least; it is thy privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare who lead the van. Someone must be hindmost in honor and esteem, someone must do menial work for Jesus, and why should not I? In a poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street, among degraded sinners, I will work on, and 'go hindmost with my standard.'
The Danites occupied a very useful place. Stragglers have to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.
The rear guard is a place of danger. There are foes behind us as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering souls, who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business of well-taught saints to bear their standards among the hindmost. My soul, do thou tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day."
I was reminded that God calls us to do the small things for Him as well as the great things, and we're not all called to do the same task. He gives us each different tools and talents to use for Him, and His ministry. Even if that is simply cleaning things, writing a letter, making a telephone call, ect. Not all of us have to be in the choir, or sing a special, or play an instrument to be used of God; and better yet, not all of us have to go to the mission field or preach a sermon. All God asks is that you give Him your time, and be willing to let Him be the One to choose what you will do.
I have a friend who's in the Marines, and we're constantly talking about work and being busy; and how some days, we really don't feel like even getting out of bed, let alone working. I was having just one of those days this week, when I read this verse:
"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."
~2Chronicles 15:7 My friend's motto for every day is "Motivate!". If the simple joy of serving God isn't motivating enough for you, let this verse add to your motivation. The promise that God will reward your hard work. It may not be right away, or even in the way you think He will reward you, but often times He goes above and beyond what we think or dream of. So be motivated to serve Him all the more because of His promises of His blessings; and not only because of His blessings, but also "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with might, according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;". ~ Colossians 1:10-11
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" ~ Hebrews 6:10-11
"MOTIVATE!" :)
Now, let's take it a step farther. I started this week out totally focused on doing everything for God; I wasn't about to let anything stand in my way. Then, once again, I read my devotions. Is there a pattern here? Lol.
I was reading Exodus 20, and the Lord told Moses to build an altar to sacrifice to the Lord. Verse 25 says " And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."
"God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead however, of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Savior's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonor it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in his dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.
Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelations; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord."
It was as if the Lord was telling me "I'm glad you want to work for Me this week, and that you want to do your best; but if it's just you working, and I'm not really having a part of it, it's not worth anything." So my prayer for this week has been that I would be diligent about working for Him in all that I do, but that it wouldn't be just me; but rather Him doing His best through me in everything. I prayed that the work I do for Him would not be polluted by me and my tools (talents or abilities).
This is what the Lord has laid on my heart this week, and I felt He wanted me to share it with you all. I hope and pray that HE blesses you and speaks to you through this as HE did me. I realize not everyone may agree with what I have said, and that's okay. I leave you with this thought:
What are you doing for Him on earth that will last in eternity, and if you're not doing anything why not?
If you are doing something, are you just going through the motions, or are you being diligent about His work? What's your motivation???
I have a friend who's in the Marines, and we're constantly talking about work and being busy; and how some days, we really don't feel like even getting out of bed, let alone working. I was having just one of those days this week, when I read this verse:
"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded."
~2Chronicles 15:7 My friend's motto for every day is "Motivate!". If the simple joy of serving God isn't motivating enough for you, let this verse add to your motivation. The promise that God will reward your hard work. It may not be right away, or even in the way you think He will reward you, but often times He goes above and beyond what we think or dream of. So be motivated to serve Him all the more because of His promises of His blessings; and not only because of His blessings, but also "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with might, according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;". ~ Colossians 1:10-11
"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:" ~ Hebrews 6:10-11
"MOTIVATE!" :)
Now, let's take it a step farther. I started this week out totally focused on doing everything for God; I wasn't about to let anything stand in my way. Then, once again, I read my devotions. Is there a pattern here? Lol.
I was reading Exodus 20, and the Lord told Moses to build an altar to sacrifice to the Lord. Verse 25 says " And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."
"God's altar was to be built of unhewn stones, that no trace of human skill or labor might be seen upon it. Human wisdom delights to trim and arrange the doctrines of the cross into a system more artificial and more congenial with the depraved tastes of fallen nature; instead however, of improving the gospel, carnal wisdom pollutes it, until it becomes another gospel, and not the truth of God at all. All alterations and amendments of the Lord's own Word are defilements and pollutions. The proud heart of man is very anxious to have a hand in the justification of the soul before God; preparations for Christ are dreamed of, humblings and repentings are trusted in, good works are cried up, natural ability is much vaunted, and by all means the attempt is made to lift up human tools upon the divine altar. It were well if sinners would remember that so far from perfecting the Savior's work, their carnal confidences only pollute and dishonor it. The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured. There is an inherent blasphemy in seeking to add to what Christ Jesus in his dying moments declared to be finished, or to improve that in which the Lord Jehovah finds perfect satisfaction. Trembling sinner, away with thy tools, and fall upon thy knees in humble supplication; and accept the Lord Jesus to be the altar of thine atonement, and rest in Him alone.
Many professors may take warning from this morning's text as to the doctrines which they believe. There is among Christians far too much inclination to square and reconcile the truths of revelations; this is a form of irreverence and unbelief, let us strive against it, and receive truth as we find it; rejoicing that the doctrines of the Word are unhewn stones, and so are all the more fit to build an altar for the Lord."
It was as if the Lord was telling me "I'm glad you want to work for Me this week, and that you want to do your best; but if it's just you working, and I'm not really having a part of it, it's not worth anything." So my prayer for this week has been that I would be diligent about working for Him in all that I do, but that it wouldn't be just me; but rather Him doing His best through me in everything. I prayed that the work I do for Him would not be polluted by me and my tools (talents or abilities).
This is what the Lord has laid on my heart this week, and I felt He wanted me to share it with you all. I hope and pray that HE blesses you and speaks to you through this as HE did me. I realize not everyone may agree with what I have said, and that's okay. I leave you with this thought:
What are you doing for Him on earth that will last in eternity, and if you're not doing anything why not?
If you are doing something, are you just going through the motions, or are you being diligent about His work? What's your motivation???
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