Doing It All

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1st Corinthians 15:58 NLT

Nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. The Message bible reads that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. Nothing. Being faithful - to God. To your wife/husband. To your children. To your employer. Changing diapers, dusting, or counting the offering. Whether you're parking cars, cleaning the potty, or preaching. Doing it all, we may wonder - "What am I doing here? Why am I doing this? Why is this my lot in life?"

Sometimes it's about poor life choices, but sometimes it's just about learning the life of Christ; developing His character in us. But ALWAYS, it's about finding Him in the moment. And doing it all for Him. In Ephesians 2:7-10, the Message bible reads, Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. Maybe it's not about the work. Maybe it's about the people or person we will meet and influence WHILE we're doing it all.

So, how DO we do it? Philippians 2:14-16, the Apostle Paul writing from prison to the church at Philippi, Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing. 

Doing it all through Christ who gives me strength, Philippians 4:13. 

Colossians 3:15-17 instructs us to, Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Or as I learned it from the King James... whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to recognize and understand that You did not call us to do everything because we can't do everything. But You did call us and You did line out work that we are to do. And we're to do all that You've given us to do with the strength You provide us, with the wisdom You've given us and without murmuring and complaining. Help us to do it all in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Amen