Seize the Moment – Day 1234
Work with God!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 3.
In my twelfth year of pastoral ministry, I learned a valuable lesson that is more than semantics; it’s my very life! I don’t work for God; I do pastoral ministry with God! I do life in the easy yoke of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30). A passage that illuminates this subtilty is Philippians 2:12-13, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” We are to work hard at what God has called us to be and do, but not like those who have been given an assignment by a distant employer who leaves us to our own devices. God is at work in us as we do our work, knowing that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
The psalmist makes this clear in today’s psalm. Psalm 108:12-13 declares, “Oh give us help against the adversary, for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we will do valiantly, and it is He who shall tread down our adversaries.” Spurgeon explained of the important distinction found in these verses:
Faith is neither a coward nor a sluggard: she knows that God is with her, and therefore she does valiantly; she knows that he will tread down her enemies, and therefore she arises to tread them down in his name. Where praise and prayer have preceded the battle, we may expect to see heroic deeds and decisive victories. “Through God” is our secret support; from that source we draw all our courage, wisdom, and strength.[1]
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 108, meditating upon the power of working with God! Paul promised in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” [emphasis added] Therefore, do all things “through God,” which means in the easy yoke of Jesus Christ!
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.