“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
The things that people do are in two different groups.
1. They study, wash dishes, garden, play, go to work, etc.
2. The other is made up of spiritual things such as praying, loving, teaching the Word, etc.
The first fits in the category of Colossians 3:17 and 3:23-24 (instruction to slaves). The “Christian” slave may not WANT to, but he does them with all his heart TO the Lord and in the name of the Lord.
The second fits in the category of religious practice which God condemns when done in duty, not in a broken spirit. Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 58, Isaiah 1, and Malachi are also relevant.
God DOES out of what He IS.
1. "God is love" (1 John 4)
2. "God so loved the world" (John 3:16)
The first verse tells us what God IS, and the second verse tells us what He DOES. We also DO out of what we ARE.
3. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matt 12:34).
4. "But just as He who called you IS HOLY so BE holy in all you do." (1 Peter 1:15)
5. "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)
The BEING comes first. The DOING comes second. The command is to BE, not to DO.
How do you "BE?" God does it! We obey by CHOOSING to "BE" without TRYING to "BE." We will "BE" by our choice and God’s doing; we do not use will "POWER" in order to “BE.”
(Taken from Day & Night)
The things that people do are in two different groups.
1. They study, wash dishes, garden, play, go to work, etc.
2. The other is made up of spiritual things such as praying, loving, teaching the Word, etc.
The first fits in the category of Colossians 3:17 and 3:23-24 (instruction to slaves). The “Christian” slave may not WANT to, but he does them with all his heart TO the Lord and in the name of the Lord.
The second fits in the category of religious practice which God condemns when done in duty, not in a broken spirit. Psalm 51:16-17, Isaiah 58, Isaiah 1, and Malachi are also relevant.
God DOES out of what He IS.
1. "God is love" (1 John 4)
2. "God so loved the world" (John 3:16)
The first verse tells us what God IS, and the second verse tells us what He DOES. We also DO out of what we ARE.
3. "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matt 12:34).
4. "But just as He who called you IS HOLY so BE holy in all you do." (1 Peter 1:15)
5. "Be holy, because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16)
The BEING comes first. The DOING comes second. The command is to BE, not to DO.
How do you "BE?" God does it! We obey by CHOOSING to "BE" without TRYING to "BE." We will "BE" by our choice and God’s doing; we do not use will "POWER" in order to “BE.”
(Taken from Day & Night)
Comments