July 31, 2022
Morning Service

The last 2 ½ weeks have been a whirlwind for me and my family.  On July 13^th, I had a heart attack and was given an emergency stent to open up a large branch artery that had become 100% clogged.  I had taken off from work for an hour or so to help Billy pour a concrete pad for a porch he was building at his place.  The work was a whole lot harder than what I was used to and once I returned to work a pain developed in my chest that would not go away.  I could not admit to myself that I was having a heart attack, but after 20 minutes I called April and she called Cari and Jon Carl.  They saved my life by making the call to 911 that I stubbornly refused to do.  Cari and Jon Carl were the first to walk into my office and I can’t tell you what a welcome sight they were.  They immediately took over and I just sat back and followed orders.  The First Responders and Ambulance crew took very good care of me and I received the “express package” which skipped Bedford and even the ER at Bloomington going directly to the Cath lab.  The staff there prepped me quickly and as the stent was being placed my pain level went through the roof!  I can’t imagine what would have happened if my family had not acted quickly and the ambulance crew recognized the severity of my condition.  I was never afraid; I knew God was in control.  He was in that moment with me spurred on by your prayers and I thank Him and you for that.

            I am physically well as there was no damage done to my heart.  I have some lifestyle changes to make which includes diet, exercise and dealing with the stress in my life.  I have had lots of time to reflect on the fact that I am getting older and my health, which has never been a problem for me, must now become a priority.  Emotionally I am still struggling a bit coming to grips with what has happened.  Life has taken on a whole “new perspective” as I realize every day is a blessing from God. On Wednesday night during testimonies several shared how God had stepped in for them in a like manner and they share this “new perspective” with me.  Things of this world are only a shadow in the presence of Jesus.  I am finding it difficult to “refocus” and get prepared to go back to work and a normal routine again.  Have you been there?  I often think of our teachers as they are going back to school.  I know I dreaded it as a student and now I can see how big a challenge it is every year for teachers to start over again with a whole new class and its set of issues.  Not even to mention the added stress Covid brought into the classroom.  As I began the study for this morning out of I Timothy 6, I found the answer for us in the predicament of moving forward into a new routine and flow of life.  How do we approach getting back into the saddle of working every day?

1Ti 6:1-2Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own master’s worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.  (2)  And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

            Paul here was speaking to Jesus followers who were bondservants or slaves.  If you had a debt you could not pay, you could sell yourself to your debtor for a period of time to repay the debt.  Paul commands those who find themselves in such a position, which is far worse than the one we are facing, to honor their master (employer) by doing your best on the task at hand.  In so doing you “don’t blaspheme the doctrine of God;” you magnify it by bringing the doctrine into life.  Imagine how hard it is to work for a supervisor in our days that is headstrong and unappreciative of what you do, but then think how that is magnified by one who was a bondservant.  You did not get to clock out and go home, you were there 24/7!  If Paul is commanding bondservants to “grow where they are planted,” how much more should we be doing that.  We must know that we are not defined by our circumstances or the job we have, but by the One we are following.  God has uniquely place you in the exact place that you are in for this moment.  We have no idea how long that moment may last, but we are told to live in it, flourish in it, grow in it, and serve God in it.  Grow where you are planted.  We live and work in our mission field and our goal must be to shine the light of Jesus upon those we rub shoulders with every day.  Paul in his other letters also ties this idea together for us.

 

Eph 6:5-9 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; (6) not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, (8) knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.  (9)  And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

            The Word is revealing to us that God expects us to “grow where we are planted” by doing our best not for our employers, but for the Lord.  He gives us purpose in the day to day things of life to live a life that reflects your faith and commitment to Jesus.  You don’t only work hard when the boss is watching, but you strive to do your best always even in the little things.  God rewards those who are diligently seeking Him and put Him first always!  Is this easy?  No way!  But it is rewarding as you glorify God with your actions, He will bless you for doing your best for Him.  He gives us purpose, peace and contentment that is not based on what the circumstances are, but who we are seeking to please.  Paul told the church at Colosse this in a twin scripture:

 Col 3:22-25 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  (23)  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.  (25)  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

            “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.”  What a challenge for us, but it gives us purpose for the normal routine of life.  Beginning with Creation, God has given us work to do.    If we could regard that work as an act of worship or service to God rather than just our job or task, we find the key to this message.  Such as attitude would take some of the drudgery and boredom out of our routine.  There is a cost to discipleship, a cost for following Jesus.  We must bring Him into our everyday routine and allow Him to give us purpose and contentment through it; not from our achievements for the company or our career, but from knowing you are making Jesus Lord of your entire life.  Everything we do reflects on Him. So teachers focus on the Lord as you begin this new year and what you can do for Him by investing in those little ones.  Be an overcomer of the small headaches and stay focused on using your gifts to glorify God fulfilling His will in your life.  I will test concrete with a new focus to do it with excellence unto the Lord.  Strive to do what you do whatever that is in sincerity of heart, fearing God and do it heartily as to the Lord.  Even in the little things, do them as an act of worship to the One we are following and by so doing we find purpose and motivation to do our best, not just enough to get by.

            God has challenged me this morning through this study as I head back to work tomorrow.  I pray He has challenged you as well.  Focus on Him and He will grant you a new perspective of doing whatever it is you do for His glory as an act of worship.

 

Heavenly Father, grant to us the ability to use You as our motivation to do what we do well.  Let us worship You through our actions and grant us purpose, peace and contentment in following You.