Promise for Toay - My Job is____________

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.

James 4:11 NLT

Most job positions are posted with an overview of the tasks and duties that are required; education, skill sets, particular levels of education, and any physical requirements. Some include a very clear, very precise description. You've probably read some: proficiency in certain software, or must be able to lift 20-50 pounds, must be able to stand for 8 hours. Must be able to sit for long periods. Must be able to... You get the idea.

What do you do if there isn't a clear job description? What if there is no employee orientation and no employee handbook to guide you? Sometimes in the corporate world, it seems as though there are policies and procedures governing everything. In smaller companies, it may be more of a relaxed, family atmosphere. Although, as we all know, not all families are relaxed. Regardless, there are rules that are pertinent to the roles being fulfilled.

When we are accepted into the family of God, we begin work for a king, and not just any king, but The King of kings. We have a comprehensive handbook to guide us. All expectations are clearly defined. 

One of the things God makes abundantly clear from the beginning to the end is:
[Jesus speaking] "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged." That's clear, isn't it?
Jesus continues, "Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you." Clear?
"Forgive others, and you will be forgiven." Are there any questions about that?
Luke 6:37 NLT.

Judging others is not my job. Condemning them is not my job, either. Forgiving others, loving them, helping them, serving - that's all part of who and what we are to be in God's kingdom. It's in our guidebook (the Bible!). Every aspect clearly defined. Reading it, studying it, knowing it, and living our lives accordingly, that IS our job.

Prayer:

Father,
           Give us understanding and wisdom when we read Your Word. Help us to live and succeed according to its precepts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Promise for Today - The Crippling Rule of Man

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!
But the leader in charge of the synagogue was indignant that Jesus had healed her on the Sabbath day. “There are six days of the week for working,” he said to the crowd. “Come on those days to be healed, not on the Sabbath.”
Luke 13:10-14 NLT

There is so much story in these short 5 verses. Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath and was moved with compassion at the sight of the crippled woman - just like He always was/is moved with compassion and healed everywhere He went. One would think that there would have been an uproar of praise as a result of witnessing the healing miracle! Indeed, there was an uproar, but of a different kind. 

The rules made by the leadership had been transgressed. The leader was indignant! And that sure translates to situations today. How dare we do God's work where it is not socially acceptable? How dare we speak His Name as sacred instead of as a swear word? How dare we attempt to fulfill the Great Commission outside of the church building where we might be seen and heard?

If we read further in the chapter, we realize that the Rule of Man would have been content for the woman to continue in her crippling bonds rather than make them have to acknowledge its crippling effect for its double standard. Do we allow ourselves to continue to be bound because of manmade rules and expectations? 

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our eyes to very clearly see Your Way, Your will. Give us the courage to stand against anything and everything that would dare to exalt itself against Christ. Give us a fresh anointing of compassion for those around us who walk crippled physically, emotionally or spiritually, so that we may lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Consequences

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;
1 Timothy 2:1-3 KJV

Obedience. Hmmmm.

As children, we are expected to obey or there are consequences. When we enter school, we are expected to obey the rules that have been set or there are consequences. As adults, we are expected to follow company rules or there are consequences.

We, in turn, expect our children to obey or there will be consequences. We expect our pets to obey or they are kenneled. We expect our citizens to obey or they are judged...depending on where you live, of course, and how good - or crooked - their lawyers are.

So where do we get the idea that we only have to obey the parts of God's instructions that we like? Or that if we don't like the person for which the rule would be applicable, we don't have to do it. I don't like so-and-so, therefore I don't have to pray for him or her. I don't have to help them. They do such-and-such so they deserve whatever is happening, etc, etc, and so on and so forth... when James 2:9-10 clearly states, But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 

We are His children. We ARE expected to obey His Word... because there will be consequences.

Prayer:

Father,
         Change our hearts, O God!  Forgive us for our rebellion. Make us very aware of any passive rebellion operating in our lives. Forgive us for thinking that we are beyond Your realm of authority. Please continue to correct us so that we may walk perfectly in the way You have set before us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.