Even when we are doing what God calls us to do, we can get weary. This devotional looks at issues that make us grow weary as we constantly strive to do God’s work.
Nuggets
- We should not grow weary, but constantly strive to be transformed to be like God.
- We should not grow weary, but constantly do the work God has for us.
- Doing what God has called us to do can sometimes be difficult, but we need to be consistent in our well-doing.
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Devotions in the Commit to Grow Our Habits study
We talked in Committed to the End about salvation being just the beginning. Navigating the Sanctification Road is the process through which we become mature disciples.
That process is not an easy one. It is easy for us to become weary — especially when we are consistent.
Burns discussed this. His wording appears in the headings.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
Here is a running list of nuggets for the study.
The foundation of this devotion is built on Burns’ Constancy in Well-Doing and Punshon’s Perseverence in Well-Doing.
Some Are Constitutionally Wavering and Unsettled
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions” (Rom. 14: 1 ESV)
We should not grow weary, but constantly strive to be transformed to be like God.
Remember, sanctification is a process. Sanctification is the transformational process of the mind, body, and soul, which begins with regeneration; gradually changes our nature and morals through the promptings of the Holy Spirit; and ends with perfected state of spiritual wholeness or completeness.
- Regeneration is being changed from spiritually dead to spiritually alive and the internal new birth and requickening that God brings about through the work of the Holy Spirit to give us new character.
- Spiritual death is the separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin.
- The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.
- Spiritual death is the separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin.
- Perfection means we reach a state of maturity because the combination of the spiritual graces form, when all are present, spiritual wholeness or completeness — holy, sanctified, and righteous.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
- Sanctified means to be set free from sin.
- Righteous means we are free from sin because we are following God’s moral laws.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Glossary
Sanctification can be a roller coaster of emotions for us. Hopefully, the majority will be positive feelings.
However, we can feel doubt, confusion, anxiety, indecision, and inadequacy among a whole host of other negative things. These feelings can be exacerbated when we become weary.
Tyson made a distinction on the faith being described here. It is kind of hard to interpret, but the way I read it is faith is a choice. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11: 1 ESV).
Resource
We can’t just go on feelings. When the doubt, confusion, anxiety, indecision, inadequacy, etc. comes, we have to stand firm on our conviction of faith.
Not in our understanding of everything. We have to believe even when we don’t understand.
Doing Implies Toil, and Human Nature Is Fond of Ease
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Col. 3: 23 ESV)
We should not grow weary, but constantly do the work God has for us.
Have you ever been called to do God’s work and gotten weary doing it?
We have to remember who Paul was talking to here. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Col. 3: 22 NIV).
That puts “whatever you do …” (Col. 3: 23 ESV) under a new slant when coupled with “… obey your earthly masters in everything …” (Col. 3: 22 NIV).
They had no choice in what and how much they did. Still, they had to do with “… with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord” (Col. 3: 22 NIV).
Macgregor interpreted this to mean we are to serve Christ by pleasing Him in all we do. At times, that may feel like a big order to fill.
Resource
This means we are not to grow weary in anything we are called to do. God may have brought us in at entry level when we think we need to be CEO. We shouldn’t grow weary doing entry-level work.
We are to do the work to the best of our abilities. We shouldn’t mess around but get the job done. We should work the full time required.
Even in the Garden of Eden, Adam worked. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Gen. 2: 15 NIV).
We were never meant to sit around and eat bonbons.
Most importantly, we should not grow weary in working out our salvation (Phil. 2: 12). Wilson gave us a reminder on this. He wrote, “This is done more for us than by us. And yet we have to ‘work out’ what God works in. This will have to be done heartily and unto the Lord, or literally not at all. We have to escape — which surely involves earnestness — to Jesus.”
Resource
Our work is to witness for Him. We are to share His love with others.
Often Difficulties in the Way of Well-Doing, and Resolution Is Indispensable
“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. … Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised” (Heb. 10: 32-36 ESV)
Doing what God has called us to do can sometimes be difficult, but we need to be consistent in our well-doing.
We call them trials. We call them afflictions. We call it persecution.
They are just plain hard.
Sometimes, they come in the form of reproaches. These are lies told about us. Those can really be challenging.
The writer of Hebrews told us to stand firm. That was the way we would gain the reward.
We were told to keep our confidence. That is a product of faith. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11: 1 NIV).
We see confidence as courage. “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1: 9 NLT).
Instead of courage, we should see confidence as assurance of our belief in God’s goodness and power. We can put our faith and trust in Him.
Doing God’s work consistently brings us patience. Think about how consistently reacting to provocation and affliction brings patience, endurance, and forbearance.
Many times, we think of consistency as being what we do — as opposed to not messing up. A big element of doing right is consistently putting our trust in God.
Making the Connections
I think Macgregor gave us the best reasons for working out our salvation. His point was to have us strive for culture and intelligence for Christ, but I see it also as how we benefit.
- We gain joy.
- We are open to seeing the beauty in His Word.
- We stay away from false beliefs.
- We are better able to serve Christ.
Resource
Isn’t that what working out our salvation is? While we strive to become like Christ, we grow to have His character.
Our only goal shouldn’t be to love others as Christ loved them. Our goal should be to introduce them to the Savior to show them His love for them.
How Do We Apply This?
- Keep a regular time for devotions — and be consistent in completing those devotions.
- Work every day to become more like Christ: i.e., work on some area that needs work, witness to others, deny ourselves, etc.
- Don’t give in to sin.
- Watch the company we keep.
- Don’t aim for anything except God.
Resource
Father God. We want to consistently do Your Will. We know – even when we are doing Your Will – there will be reasons that we become weary. Help us to always be following You. Give us peace and contentment as we do Your work. Amen.
What do you think?
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