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Friday, March 21, 2014

Live Before You Die - day 10

In the Lord's Prayer Jesus prayed, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10).

Every one of God's holy prophets since the beginning of the world has spoken about the restoration of all things.  Those prophecies will be fulfilled, the prayer of Jesus will be answered, and God's kingdom will come.  This is what we long for.  This is what we pray for.  This is what we work for - for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven!  Regardless of what we do as an occupation, we all share a singular calling and mission in this life: to build God's kingdom on earth.

The building of God's kingdom on earth is not just something we should keep in the back of our minds and try to contribute toward whenever an opportunity presents itself.  Seeing God's kingdom come on earth must be our main ambition.  In fact, Jesus said, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33, emphasis added).

I see this scenario play out before my eyes every day in the West.  Our comforts and conveniences have often made us complacent and indifferent to a dying world.  We are often afraid to do anything that might disturb our cozy, pampered lives.

The gospel is not an optional topic of conversation best left out of the workplace. It is God who gave you your job, and He gave it to you for a reason.  God is calling you into the ministry - even if He positions you in a "secular" occupation.  Your calling is to propel God's kingdom forward in whatever sphere you find yourself.

The money in our bank accounts is not ours - it all belongs to God to begin with.  He is not only the source of all our provision, but He is also the One who has given us the ability to create wealth.  God hasn't blessed us so we can consume those resources on our own lusts and pleasures; He has blessed us so we can be a blessing.

If God has entrusted you with money, you must realize that you are not the terminus; you are a channel through which those resources should flow.  Yes, when water flows through a pipe, the pipe also gets wet!  When God's blessings flow through you, you are also blessed personally, but never make the mistake of thinking you are blessed because you are so special or wonderful, intelligent or talented.  As Mordecai said to Esther, "Don't flatter yourself!"

He's blessed you for a purpose, and your fulfilling that purpose is not a side issue - it's the reason you have those blessings in the first place!  If you won't do what God has called you to do, He will find someone else who will do it with joy!

Daniel Kolenda, Live before you die

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)


 

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