DECEMBER 15 – IT’S GOD’S WORK

 Pray for the Master to provide workers from and for the work of harvest… 9Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, “you have experienced the working presence of God.” (Luke 10: 2,9)

                  Can you keep understanding that it’s not about you when great things are happening, and people are praising you? Can you remember that your work is no more important than that of any other believer, no matter what your role? Can you stay focused on the single person Jesus puts in front of you each moment, even if there are so many you must consider?

                  Twice during His instructions to the seventy-two follower/students, Jesus reminded these people, “It is not about you. This is God’s work.” Think for a moment. There were no believers in these towns where Jesus sent them. The prayer in verse two is for a harvest full of harvesters. The workers to lead the people must rise from the people who would be changed. That takes a miracle of God. It is no less a miracle than to heal the variety of “sickness,” (whether emotional, spiritual, or physical) these people would encounter. All of it was beyond their human capacity.

                  This same work is also your job. And, it is also beyond your capacity, apart from the Holy Spirit’s leadership in your life. It is still God’s work – all of it – every day.

DECEMBER 14 – KNOW YOUR PEOPLE

 If the people (where I send you) desire God’s blessing and peace, then His blessing will be theirs. If not, then accept their answer. If you stay, get to now the people well. Understand and participate with them in their daily life; you’ll earn your keep. Don’t jump around. Stay with your people and be content living life with them. (Luke 10:6-8)

                   Do you like the people God has given you? The question is not, “do you love…” because you may feel obligated. The Bible tells you to “love your neighbor…” But, some folks are easier to like than others. Sometimes, one or more of your people will be difficult. Often, the answer to their struggles is found in getting to know them and their situation better. Will you make the investment required to do that? Will you pay that cost of following?

                   Part of Jesus’ instruction here is simply, “get to know your people.” Attitudes, behavior, even emotional, physical, and spiritual health, are greatly influenced by the day-to-day circumstances of a person’s life. Jesus knows that you will have a far better chance of empathizing with a person and the challenges they face if you experience those challenges with them.

                   Take the time to pay attention to the circumstances of your people’s lives. Invest yourself fully in the work of knowing them.

DECEMBER 13 – FIND YOUR PLACE

 After this (Challenging His followers to find those who were willing to pay the costs of following Him), He named seventy-two people, and sent them out in pairs, each to a place He planned to go. He sent them, saying, “There is a great harvest ready, but so few to work. Pray the Master will produce workers from and for that work. You’ll be like little sheep in a wolfpack. Don’t try to prepare, and don’t get side-tracked. Just go where I send you and say, “I bring God’s prosperity to this place.” (Luke 10:1-5)

                  Can you still follow directions? Sometimes, as people grow older and gain experience, their way becomes fixed. Sometimes, they even begin to think they are too far along to change, so any instruction requiring change may be dismissed as unreasonable and therefore, wrong.

                   Jesus didn’t ask these seventy-two followers to tell Him where they should go nor what they should do, nor how they should do it. He told them, in some detail, about every aspect of the work that was important to accomplish His objective for the work that would be done. He knew what each person needed in their own life, and what those whom they would meet needed as well. You don’t know either of those answers. Your job description still reads, “follow Jesus” even when you lead others.

                   Be sure that today, and every day, you find your place in the work by listening for the Lord’s voice.

DECEMBER 12 – LIVE THE DREAM

 Then, Jesus said privately to his followers, “You are so blessed to be able to see all of this! I want you to realize that the prophets and kings would have loved to see and hear and experience the life you are being given” (Luke 10:23-24)

                   How often do you complain? Do you get up some mornings thinking of the challenges of the day with anxiety or even dread? Or, do you understand that every moment of your life is an opportunity to watch and participate in the great work that God is doing in His world and His people? Are you living the dream or the drudgery?

                   Jesus has just celebrated the return of the seventy-two people He commissioned to go ahead of Him. He had challenged them, sent them, heard the stories of God’s work through their lives. Then, He thank God “full of joy through the Holy Spirit (verse 21).” This was a big deal for Jesus! He was excited. So, He made the effort to get his people to stop and take note; to celebrate their great fortune. They had been chosen by God to be part of His work to change lives. You have been chosen too! Celebrate that great opportunity every day.

                  See your great fortune through Jesus’ eyes. Relish the opportunity you have been given to live God’s dream life for you.

DECEMBER 11 – FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS

 There are different jobs and different ways of working, but it is all God’s work through men and women. Through His Holy Spirit, He gives to each person the understanding needed for their work and their people. (1Corinthians 12:6-7)

                  When you think of Paul’s promise in Philippians 4:19, “My God will make sure you have all you need…” do you think about wisdom, understanding, perspective, and other measures of competence to do your work? “All” means “all,” correct? Was Paul reassuring his friends that God would make sure the funds they sent him would be replenished, or was he showing them that God had brought them to understand, empathize, and experience the joy of partnership with him in his struggles? Maybe it was both!

                   In this passage, Paul clearly thinks of God’s provision broadly. Here, he speaks directly of provision that is given in order that the work can be completed. This is a powerful message to you. With the assurance that you will not run short of what you need to complete the work God wants you to do, your focus can be on the work, and upon the people who need the work to be done. Most human fear is rooted in worries that his promise eliminates.

                   Live confidently, focusing on the vision and values God has given you. Help others to see that He consistently provides for the work he commissions.

DECEMBER 10 – RULES CAN’T DO IT

 But the results that give evidence of God’s Holy Spirit working in a life are evident in what you see. They are a love for other people, cheerful happiness, an inner calm and peace, a willingness to wait. These people are kind and gentle, consistently good, and are unruffled by challenges. You can’t make these traits appear by force. Rules don’t bring these results. (Galatians 5:22-23)

                  People who lead are often fond of rules. Rules are simple. If you could only list the important dos and don’ts in one place, and then threaten consequences for those who don’t follow that list, it would be so easy…. Well, not really. Remember the Ten Commandments? Like it happens today, the short list didn’t work, so people in power created many more rules that no one followed, not even the leaders. Why not? Why don’t rules work?

                   Paul observes, the important values of God can’t be created with rules. Jesus explained, “It’s from your very core; your heart, that you desire evil ways and hate others. (Matthew 15:19)” Jesus restored your ability to relate to God through the Holy Spirit living in you. With your heart focused on Christ in you, you can live the life that Paul describes.

                   Understand that living God’s values is an issue of the heart. Frame these values as promises from Him and from you - because of His love – not as rules.

DECEMBER 9 – PRAYERFUL SELF-CONTROL

 I am sure that the faith of your ancestors has become yours. We affirmed that gift, and we are praying for you. Charge ahead with that Spirit leading you – just as if it were a consuming fire. Be bold in using that power to discipline yourself and love other people. (2 Timothy 1:5)

                   What controls you? Many people, especially those who have been successful, fear loss or failure or pain. That fear is often what turns their bold thoughts into passing ideas. Living boldly with self-control is a very difficult balancing act for most people. Charging ahead is not usually considered a part of discipline. How do you accomplish this balance and go all out without fear of rejection or humiliation when God calls to you?

                   Paul argues that it is Timothy’s faith in the Holy Spirit of God constantly leading him that will enable him to have this confidence. His act of self-discipline is simply to focus intently on what God tells him to do next. Paul also hints at another helpful constant. Jesus is always focusing His work on people. He always loves you and the other people around you. That orientation will always mark His work in and through your life.

                   Focus on the vision God has given you, and upon the people who are the face of that vision, and then charge ahead. Set your community on fire for Jesus.