Tuesday 29 Jul 2014

July 29: Philippians 4:14-20

Key Verse: Philippians 4:17
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Devotion:
As a person who is working for God I can relate to these words by the apostle. There are many people who will say that they want to work for God but not many people who are willing to do what it takes in order to get the work done. I come up against many people who tell me all about what they do or tell me all about how much they do but not many people who just get on and do the work. I like to think that I am the type of person that just gets on with the work and hence I don’t broadcast what I do; so me saying anything about my work does not come so easily for me. I would rather just know that I am trying to do God’s will than talk about it.

There are those that crave the recognition and crave the rewards that may come with what they do. Can God still use those people who seem to seek their own glory? Yes He can! Nothing is impossible with God and He will continue to use those who are willing to be used and even those who do seek their own glory at times. There are those who will boast about how much they give in order for God’s work to be done and God can and does use those people.

It is really about how you see your own relationship with God. If you are willing to be used by God then you should be willing to be used in whichever way He deems necessary rather than the best way you think possible. We are blinkered by this world and we only see as far as the world allows us to look whereas God is not limited and hence can go beyond what we see as being possible. I do try to make sure that I listen to God rather than listening to the world; sorting out which is the world and which is God is difficult at times. Difficult, but not impossible!

Comparing what you do with the instructions that God has already given us is what should make the difference. God has given us plenty to think about through His word, our bibles, which was given to great men and women of God a long time ago. Our bibles tell us of what God expects and what He has shown us to be good and righteous. They are not just a list of suggestions; they are what God shows us to be good and necessary.

Points to Ponder:
Do you tell everyone what you are going to do?

Or do you just do it?