According to the old Wild West story, this note was found with the body of a prospector in South Dakota:
"I lost my gun. I lost my horse. I am out of food. The Indians are after me. But I've got all the gold I can carry!"
The ministry of Grace for the Heart has a special love for pastors and missionaries and others in vocational Christian work. We often communicate with people who are worn out "working for God." They have little joy, less love, but great zeal for the work of the Lord. Many are in positions where they can't admit that they are discouraged, frightened, or just plain worn out. They push on with the work because they think that somehow it must matter. After all, someday God will notice – right?
But along the way they lose the sense of call, the blessing of walking with Jesus in the work. They may have planted a church, spread the gospel, translated the Scripture – and they believe that these things are "gold" in their accounts – but they have lost their "lives" in Jesus. It is no wonder that so many suffer serious depression and long to leave the ministry.
There is such a thing as "zeal without knowledge." Hard work, serious dedication, faithful devotion to the wrong things. It is important for us to remember that the Pharisees were zealous for the things of the Lord. They worked hard to do everything just right, living by the letter of the law. But when Jesus came, they failed to recognize their Lord. In all their work for Him, they forgot Him. They not only lost their love, they lost their joy as well. They became picky, self-serving, and elitist. By working hard for their own righteousness, they missed the righteousness God provided for them in Jesus.
1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-5 ( NKJV )
Zeal is not a bad thing, but be zealous with understanding. Paul laid aside everything for one goal, to know Christ. (Philippians 3:8) He understood that knowing Jesus, walking with Him, would allow everything else to fall into place. If you are discouraged after working hard for God, stop and just seek Him. The work is His and He will move it forward or end it as He sees fit. You can trust Him. But if you lose sight of Him, you lose everything that matters. You may have lots of spiritual "gold", but no real life!
2009 offers a chance for change. Drop everything and run to Jesus! Find in Him the life you long for. In Him are peace and security, happiness and fulfillment, love and acceptance. Then ask Him what He wants you to do, not for Him but with Him. Be zealous to know Him and to enjoy your relationship with Him. The rest will fall into place. This is how believers can get so much accomplished while resting. They rest in their relationship with Him and walk with Him as He does His work. Churches still get planted, the gospel is still shared, and the Scriptures are still translated. The work gets done because it is important to Him; but the strength, energy, wisdom, and other resources all come from Him.
Obviously, this isn't just a message for those in full-time Christian ministry. We all need to remember that our joy and peace, our purpose and fulfillment, is in Him. Whether you are a homemaker, a teacher, a factory worker, or whatever – your life is found in Jesus Himself, not in His (or your) work.
Our prayer for you is that you find all of this in Him and that you learn and enjoy the blessing of His grace in your life. Have a blessed New Year!
David Orrison
www.gracefortheheart.org
"I lost my gun. I lost my horse. I am out of food. The Indians are after me. But I've got all the gold I can carry!"
The ministry of Grace for the Heart has a special love for pastors and missionaries and others in vocational Christian work. We often communicate with people who are worn out "working for God." They have little joy, less love, but great zeal for the work of the Lord. Many are in positions where they can't admit that they are discouraged, frightened, or just plain worn out. They push on with the work because they think that somehow it must matter. After all, someday God will notice – right?
But along the way they lose the sense of call, the blessing of walking with Jesus in the work. They may have planted a church, spread the gospel, translated the Scripture – and they believe that these things are "gold" in their accounts – but they have lost their "lives" in Jesus. It is no wonder that so many suffer serious depression and long to leave the ministry.
There is such a thing as "zeal without knowledge." Hard work, serious dedication, faithful devotion to the wrong things. It is important for us to remember that the Pharisees were zealous for the things of the Lord. They worked hard to do everything just right, living by the letter of the law. But when Jesus came, they failed to recognize their Lord. In all their work for Him, they forgot Him. They not only lost their love, they lost their joy as well. They became picky, self-serving, and elitist. By working hard for their own righteousness, they missed the righteousness God provided for them in Jesus.
1Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-5 ( NKJV )
Zeal is not a bad thing, but be zealous with understanding. Paul laid aside everything for one goal, to know Christ. (Philippians 3:8) He understood that knowing Jesus, walking with Him, would allow everything else to fall into place. If you are discouraged after working hard for God, stop and just seek Him. The work is His and He will move it forward or end it as He sees fit. You can trust Him. But if you lose sight of Him, you lose everything that matters. You may have lots of spiritual "gold", but no real life!
2009 offers a chance for change. Drop everything and run to Jesus! Find in Him the life you long for. In Him are peace and security, happiness and fulfillment, love and acceptance. Then ask Him what He wants you to do, not for Him but with Him. Be zealous to know Him and to enjoy your relationship with Him. The rest will fall into place. This is how believers can get so much accomplished while resting. They rest in their relationship with Him and walk with Him as He does His work. Churches still get planted, the gospel is still shared, and the Scriptures are still translated. The work gets done because it is important to Him; but the strength, energy, wisdom, and other resources all come from Him.
Obviously, this isn't just a message for those in full-time Christian ministry. We all need to remember that our joy and peace, our purpose and fulfillment, is in Him. Whether you are a homemaker, a teacher, a factory worker, or whatever – your life is found in Jesus Himself, not in His (or your) work.
Our prayer for you is that you find all of this in Him and that you learn and enjoy the blessing of His grace in your life. Have a blessed New Year!
David Orrison
www.gracefortheheart.org
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