Work for the Night is Coming

"We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work."  John 9:4

As I pen the words here upon this page I am convicted.  I am not just convicted with regard to the tasks God has assigned to me, to us, but for the failure to be different, to be set apart from the culture as God has called His own to be.

Psalm 4:3 tells us, "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to him."  

And, Jeremiah 1:5 says, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”  These words God said to Jeremiah I know to be true more than my own given name.

But what does being set apart have to do with the work?  

Being set apart for God's purposes gives us the proper perspective regarding His work.

In speaking with acquaintances, they often remark about their many travels of a leisurely sort and other leisurely pursuits as though these things are earned and deserved, as though this is the expected path after many years of hard labor, the proverbial riding off into the sunset.  And, while there may be a bit of pride for one's own accomplishments at the heart of this way of thinking, greater still is the need for a shift in perspective.

Do you know what I mean?

The perspective to which I refer is that of Christ, Himself.  While He did things that to some may have been considered leisurely, His pursuit was not leisure, itself.  His pursuit was to do the will, the work of the Father.

Is that your pursuit?  Or, like the world and the culture around us, are you counting the days until retirement in order to spend your millions on the golf course or some other worldly extravagance?  Are you spending His riches on your own selfish desires?  Or, are you quick to remember that every penny has been given for you to steward on His behalf?

When God called you, when He called me, He tasked us with making disciples of all the nations, teaching them to obey all the commands He has given us.  And, He promised not to leave us to do the work alone.

He. Is. With. Us.

There is no worldly pursuit or pleasure that can ever come close to the deep, abiding joy of pursuing God's plan for our lives.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20

Work for Jesus.  The night will be here soon.

Goodnight, Runners.