Psalm 90:17 "Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands."
"Only one life, it soon will be past.
Only what's done for Jesus will last."
This is a quote my dad always used to use, and it has stuck in my mind all these years. Whatever work we do, if it isn't done for God, it is a waste of time. God tells us that we must work, but He doesn't tell us what we must do. (Being called to specific tasks is another subject, not under discussion here.)
In II Thessalonians 3:8-11, Paul taught the Christians that they must work, occupy themselves, not only in order for them to have a means of support, but so that they would stay our of trouble, and keep from becoming busybodies. He set an example for them by working day and night at his trade. (he was a tentmaker) He said, in v.10: "That if any would not work, neither should he eat." In I Thessalonians 4:11, he taught: (here I quote NIV, as it makes the meaning clearer): "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands.... v.12 so that your daily life may win respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
God has told us we must work
From our duties, we must not shirk.
My sister told me this little story about her granddaughter. One Christmas a few years ago, she was visiting her daughter, who has five children. The oldest girl, a very grown-up seven at the time, was busily working on a potholder to give to her mother for Christmas. She went up to her Grandma and said, "Grandmother, will you help me finish this? I am afraid I won't get it finished in time."
My sister answered, "Well, you know, Hannah, I should be out working in the kitchen, helping to get supper ready. God tells us that we have to work. He says that if we do not work, we cannot eat."
To this Hannah replied, "Yes, that's true, but helping me with this potholder is work."
"But that is 'fun work.'" said my sister, "I have to do 'real work.'"
"But Grandmother," Hannah persisted. "God just says that we must work. He doesn't say that the work can't be fun."
Needless to say, "Grandmother" helped Hannah finish the potholder, and at the same time learned from the mouth of a babe the true meaning of what God was telling us when He said: "Occupy till I come." Luke 19:13.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."
Oh God:
Cleanse my heart this day.
Make it white, I pray.
May each thing I do
be done, Lord for you.
May the labor of my hands
be tried. May it stand.
When judgment day has come
May I hear, "My child, well done."
I Corinthians 3:13: "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."
© Helen Dowd
Helen Dowd's Website
Poetry Corner...
To Do Thy Will
How I can hold still
When it is the gift of faith
Moving me to do thy Will?
Is it me at all?
Or the One who answered
My prayers and call…
Lord Jesus set me free
Cleansing me of my sin
Greater is He
Who now dwells within.
His light shines upon my path
Protecting me from darkness
That I may not suffer God's wrath.
In His church, He gave me a part
In telling others
Of a brand-new start.
Holy Spirit guides my way
Helping me to speak
The words I earnestly pray.
How I can hold still
When it is true faith that
Teaches me to do thy Will?
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do thy will ; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good;
lead me into the land of uprightness.
Julie Pisacane's Poetry
More Poetry...
His Fathers Works"
The Sons of men, shall see, the Son of man
Coming in the fulness, of His Father
In His image, hath HE come, again
Still walking on the waters
For, His Fathers truth, upholds, all whom enter therein
So wheresoever, IS, His sickle thrust
Therein are the wicked SEVERED from the just
His love overcometh all, every purpose and intent of His heart
He hath poured out, to manifest and impart
Wisdom and life unto His children
Beauty for ashes, for His grace knoweth not mistakes
All the members of His body, Hath HE made, to be holy and pure
And no thing hath HE made, without a purpose SURE
The Alpha and Omega, hath no beginning or an end
But yet delights in making History,
As all things were made for Him
From the least unto the greatest
Each hath a part to do,
Let our feast, be from His latest
Revelation given you,
For by faith have every elder
Received His GOOD report
And by faith, wisdom beheld her
And did bless, His Fathers Works!
Written By Stephen Monday
Stephen Monday's Beacon Of Truth Website
May the Lord richly bless all of you ,
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