Time for a Provocative Commercial: “Daddy, What’s it like to work?”

What a negative commercial! Aren’t you glad that working for the Lord can be quite different?

 

Getting Some Work Done!

As some of you know, I’ve been retired from teaching full-time for two years. The Lord has been so gracious to me to keep me busy and, hopefully, useful to Him! I’ve enjoyed teaching overseas (Korea, Myanmar) and right now am working hard on two manuscript projects. I appreciate the believers in New Jersey who invite me to speak every few months. And I’m thankful for you, my friend, for reading my posts. If you feel so inclined, a comment below would be an encouragement to me. Have a great day!

 

What Did Jesus Pray About? (Part 3)

We are examining Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 over the next few posts, asking what prayer meant to Him. Let’s continue our thinking on the first few verses.  We saw that prayer prepared the Lord Jesus for His “hour.”

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus then focuses on the issue of glory.  He asks that the Father “glorify” the Son.  There is a mutual glorifying that Jesus desires.  He states that He had brought the Father glory on earth by finishing the work the Father gave Him to do.  But, wait.  The work of atonement was just beginning, right?

What was the work the Father gave Him to do that He says He had “finished”?  He had lived out the perfect human life, resisting the temptations of the Evil One, and revealing the Father to His disciples.  He had faithfully taught the truth, healed the sick, and even raised the dead.  These “works” were important, but were signs leading up to His great work, giving Himself for the sins of the world.

We are to be like our Lord.  We are to “finish” the work He has given us to do.  What work has He assigned to you?  Of course, there is always more work to do.  But take the time in prayer and thank the Lord for the work He has empowered you to finish.  (to be continued)

 

Time for a Great Cartoon! (Work)

Back in the 1950’s when I was a wee lad, I watched a TV show called “Dobie Gillis.” It was an innocent show about a young man’s life and his awkward attempts at romance.

One of Dobie’s friends was named Maynard G. Krebs. Here’s a picture of Maynard:
Maynard hated work. In fact, whenever the word “work” was used, he would respond “WORK!?”
That’s, unfortunately, how many view work today. But we were created to work (see Genesis 1-3). Work is not a result of the fall of man — weary work is!

Your comments?

 

The Joy of Unit-Reading #22 (the Minor Prophet Haggai)

Our journey in reading 65 (of the 66) of the books of the Bible in one sitting continues today.  This is called unit-reading and today we are looking at the minor prophet Haggai.

God cares about the work we do — and the spirit in which we do it.

 

Psalms of My Life (Psalm 127)

Psalm 127

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.

¹ Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
² In vain you rise early
    and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

³ Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court.

 

Time for a Great Cartoon! (sense of entitlement)

You’ve gotta love Calvin & Hobbes.  Watterson gets right to the heart of much of the spirit of the age:  ENTITLEMENT!  A culture built around wishes and pill-popping and button-pushing minimizes the value of work and effort.

How do we combat the pervasive spirit of ENTITLEMENT in our culture?

Your ideas?