But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, Master! for it was borrowed.   I Kings 6:5

    In Elisha the Prophet’s day, there was a group of men studying the scriptures and learning about God. They grew in knowledge but also in number. The building they were meeting in became too small to hold them all, so they decided to build a bigger building. Anytime growth is involved, there is work to be done, whether it’s in nature, our homes, our jobs, or the church. So these men got at the task by cutting down trees to be used for the building of the bigger rooms. But as they were hard at it, one of the prophet’s axe head broke and fell into the water. What made the situation even worse was the fact that the axe was a borrowed one.     

     Sometimes, when we think we’re doing what we ought to be doing, with the very best of intentions too, something happens to thwart our efforts. Never forget that God sends trouble sometimes too! And, when He does, He sends it for a purpose which is really two fold — for our good and His glory. Here is a good example to illustrate that good intentions may fail but God never fails. Our faith may shrivel to nothing, but our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness is greater than the mountains.   

     Never be afraid to do something worthy because you’re afraid you may fail. The truth is we are all failures, but that’s the sort of people God uses, especially if we want to work. Actually, anyone who thinks they have never failed, most likely has never done very much either.     

     The local church, much like this school of prophets, is a work zone where the growth in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ not only expands the faith of God’s people, but requires maintenance and sustenance of the place where they meet. The church is a work in progress and the progress of the work is directly proportionate to God’s power and the willingness of the people to glorify God by dressing and keeping His garden of grace. May the Lord prompt and enable us to hit the ground working in 2025. Work for God >     The Lord Jesus Christ’s first recorded words were that He came to work for God.

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?  Luke 2:49

     I see a lot of working for God going, on around here! Whether it’s preparing food for Wednesday night suppers, Senior Luncheons, or a bereaved family, seeing that the plants are nurtured in the church, sitting in the pews, or kneeling in the prayer room, it’s really working for God!

    We know and appreciate the fact that we are to do all we do for the glory of God. Surely this includes our work. No doubt, our vocations as well as our family life are not less than a work given to us by our Heavenly Father. Most especially though, the tasks and the challenges of the kingdom work in the local church are the work orders from our Creator and Saviour. Let’s be thankful God has given us something to do and such a wonderful reason for doing it too.

Work With God

    When our granddaughter Faith was about five years old she told me she wanted some chickens and she wanted to help me build a pen for them. Now tell me, how much could a five year old contribute to the work of building a chicken pen? Yet it was my pleasure to see her trying to help me hold the wire while I cut it. The entire project’s high- light was not the quality of the chicken pen we built, but was the special time a grandfather and granddaughter spent together.

     I suppose some of the most influential people in our lives are the people we work with. The comradely created by sweat and tears, tangles and tares knit the hearts of those involved together with valor and virtue like nothing else can do.

    The local church is like a garden spot given to us by our Heavenly Father and purchased by the blood of His Only Begotten Son. Never forget the church is God’s church and His great hand is always going to be involved with what’s going on there. Simply put — when it comes to getting something done, it’s God that makes it happen. What’s so good about that is that He allows us the privilege to work with Him.

For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Work While We Can

    Once, when I was departing from a visit in a nursing home with a sister in the Lord who had served God faithfully in His church while she could, said to me, “Brother Randy, tell the people at the church to do all they can in worship and service to God, for the day is coming when they won’t be able to do much.” A good resolution for us all for 2025 might be to do all we can, for as long as we can, for the Lord.

    We don’t have to worry about running out of work either. God, in His wisdom, knows and sees to it that we have enough problems and hard to get along with people in our paths to provide us with all the job security we could ever want. Let’s not put off for tomorrow what we can do today, for tomorrow may not come for us. If today is the day the Lord has made and we should rejoice in it, then surely this is the day we should show why we are glad and rejoiceful. We have work to do! David said in the Psalms that he was glad when he was able to go into the house of the Lord. David was not only a man after God’s own heart, he was also a working man. May the Lord help us this new year not only to walk circumspectly, but also to work circumspectly, redeeming the time for the most worthwhile purpose — God’s work!

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4

Brother Randy