PRAY IT! Joy to the Work - Week 3

This Sunday we will bring to a close our sermon series Joy to the Work.  Although the sermons are done, we will be presented with opportunity after opportunity to continue to remember and apply what God had us learn.  When the going gets tough - we can choose to respond differently than we maybe would have in the past.  And who knows... 2015 could be a year of unimaginable opportunities as we respond in ways we may have previously thought not possible.

Keeping in mind that it is all sacred, that we can look to God and work how He works (create, redeem, and sustain), this Sunday we will be challenged to begin our work opportunities "with the end in mind." 

No one said it would be easy!

As our Scripture readings for the week show, Old Testament prophets did just this.  Isaiah 65:17-25 beautifully demonstrates this kind of "big picture" thinking.  Verses 17-18 state "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.  But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness."

Beautiful!  Just beautiful. 

Now take the thought and apply it to your current work (keeping in mind your work is whatever is occupying your time).  Can you imagine if former things (perhaps workplace gossip, being demoralized and reduced down to "just a number", etc.) were not remembered, but instead, God created something new... better... and provided a gladness and a joy?  And perhaps He chose to do some of that through... you?  It might be a little easier to work more joyfully and with a more trusting attitude if we spent less time considering and giving weight to things that aren't of as much consequence as we like to think they are, when paired up against things of a more eternal nature and importance.

Keeping the end in mind while living in the possibly unpleasant present (hey, that's catchy) is a challenge.  I'd say if you're feeling a bit bummed out or burned out by this prospect, consider Mary in Luke 2.  (Hey, it is close to Christmas...)  Mary found out she was going to give birth to Jesus - Savior of all, the Lord, Immanuel... Really take a moment to dwell on that. 

Seriously.  Take a moment.  Think about it. 

Betrothal to Joseph.  Pregnancy.  Possible divorce.  Angels.  Virgin birth.  More angels.  Manger.  Savior.  I don't know what struggles you may be dealing with during this current "work season" you are in, but perhaps we can all concede that Mary "one-ups" all of us in the struggle department.

Amidst angels and shepherds and a manger, and giving birth... to SAVIOR OF THE WORLD... Mary didn't seem to host a pity party from what we can see in Scripture.  She didn't lament the whole drama that probably came along with being pregnant with a baby that wasn't Joseph's.  Or giving birth in essentially a barn.  Or that angels kept appearing to her with messages.  Instead, "Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).  Think of her husband Joseph (this wasn't easy on him, either).  Yet, in Matthew we read how Joseph responded obediently to the angel of the Lord.  What message from God was Joseph pondering in his heart?  Something that helped him work with the end in mind:

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

Work with the end in mind. 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Dear God,
There are many seasons in our lives.  Many starts and stops.  Many beginnings and endings.  Help us to honor You in every single one.  Help us to trust you as we keep our eye on what is really important, and work with the end in mind.  Help us to trust You are working with the end in mind as well, even if we don't get to see all the results of how things work out in this lifetime.  You are bigger than our struggles.
Amen.

Spread the word:  PoC's Thursday night prayer service is on hiatus until 2015.  Stay tuned for updates!  We encourage you all to join us at our 9:30am Sunday pre-service prayer time.  You won't regret it!

Blessings,
Pastor Celia