Hard work and rest
Saturday 8th December 2018
'Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.' Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whether for our exams, our job or our relationships, hard work pays off. Sometimes we may start something with loads of energy and passion, only to become discouraged and stop working towards achieving what we set out to do. Maybe we don't see the progress we wanted, or maybe nobody recognises the hard work we're putting in.
But the Bible tells us: 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters' (Colossians 3:23 NIV). When we think we're working for people, it's easy to become discouraged or not give it our all. But when we remember we're working for God, whatever our task is, it's easier to give it everything we have. But sometimes we can burn out. God's not asking us to work to the point where we become ill. Even if our projects or work are for really good causes, we need to take care of ourselves too. Even Jesus needed rest, and recognised we need rest too. He told the disciples: '"Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." For those who were coming and going were many, and they did not even have time to eat' (Mark 6:31 TLB).
So we need to make sure we're putting our all into whatever we do, but also resting so that we don't burn out.
So what now? Think through what you have to do today. Commit yourself to giving every task your all, and make sure you build in times of rest to your day too.
Developing integrity
Sunday 9th December 2018
'Everything they do is done for people to see.' Matthew 23:5 NIV
The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word hypokrites, which means 'stage actor'. An actor is pretending to be someone they're not, and that's what a hypocrite does. A hypocrite may act as if they believe something, when actually they don't. Or they may point out mistakes others are making, when secretly they're doing the exact same things.
The reality is that we've all behaved hypocritically. We've acted one way in public and another in private. When Jesus spoke about the Pharisees, he claimed: 'Everything they do is done for people to see' (Matthew 23:4 NIV). Jesus also said that 'they do not practise what they preach' (Matthew 23:3 NIV). Perhaps who we are at church is not always the person we are at home. Maybe we've found ourselves trapped by temptation, yet at church we sing, pray and act like nothing's wrong. We need to make sure that our lifestyle matches what we believe. We need to have integrity. And if we're pointing out someone else's faults, we should consider our own faults too. The Bible says: 'Should you say, "Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye," when you can't even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother' (Matthew 7:4-5 TLB).
Let's live as Jesus calls us to, with integrity and without judging others.
So what now? Honestly consider whether any hypocrisy has crept into your life. If it has, ask God to help you develop integrity in this area.
Saturday 8th December 2018
'Work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.' Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whether for our exams, our job or our relationships, hard work pays off. Sometimes we may start something with loads of energy and passion, only to become discouraged and stop working towards achieving what we set out to do. Maybe we don't see the progress we wanted, or maybe nobody recognises the hard work we're putting in.
But the Bible tells us: 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters' (Colossians 3:23 NIV). When we think we're working for people, it's easy to become discouraged or not give it our all. But when we remember we're working for God, whatever our task is, it's easier to give it everything we have. But sometimes we can burn out. God's not asking us to work to the point where we become ill. Even if our projects or work are for really good causes, we need to take care of ourselves too. Even Jesus needed rest, and recognised we need rest too. He told the disciples: '"Let's get away from the crowds for a while and rest." For those who were coming and going were many, and they did not even have time to eat' (Mark 6:31 TLB).
So we need to make sure we're putting our all into whatever we do, but also resting so that we don't burn out.
So what now? Think through what you have to do today. Commit yourself to giving every task your all, and make sure you build in times of rest to your day too.
Developing integrity
Sunday 9th December 2018
'Everything they do is done for people to see.' Matthew 23:5 NIV
The word hypocrite comes from the Greek word hypokrites, which means 'stage actor'. An actor is pretending to be someone they're not, and that's what a hypocrite does. A hypocrite may act as if they believe something, when actually they don't. Or they may point out mistakes others are making, when secretly they're doing the exact same things.
The reality is that we've all behaved hypocritically. We've acted one way in public and another in private. When Jesus spoke about the Pharisees, he claimed: 'Everything they do is done for people to see' (Matthew 23:4 NIV). Jesus also said that 'they do not practise what they preach' (Matthew 23:3 NIV). Perhaps who we are at church is not always the person we are at home. Maybe we've found ourselves trapped by temptation, yet at church we sing, pray and act like nothing's wrong. We need to make sure that our lifestyle matches what we believe. We need to have integrity. And if we're pointing out someone else's faults, we should consider our own faults too. The Bible says: 'Should you say, "Friend, let me help you get that speck out of your eye," when you can't even see because of the board in your own? Hypocrite! First get rid of the board. Then you can see to help your brother' (Matthew 7:4-5 TLB).
Let's live as Jesus calls us to, with integrity and without judging others.
So what now? Honestly consider whether any hypocrisy has crept into your life. If it has, ask God to help you develop integrity in this area.
