Colossians 3:22-25
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
For eighteen years, Greg and I owned a publishing business. Much of that time, we were the sole employees, so we did everything… from answering the phone and taking orders to typesetting and proofreading our magazine every 2 months… to stuffing the magazines in envelopes, sealing, stamping and labeling them for mailing. We were meticulous about every detail, but even so…we sometimes found typos, put the wrong amount of postage on a piece of mail, or inadvertently upset a customer. None of us are perfect!
Over the years, we watched others try to emulate what we were doing. There is an old adage that says that “Imitation is the best form of flattery,” but we were not flattered by many of these projects. The work was often shoddy and riddled with mistakes… and in the end, these businesses didn’t last. We learned very quickly not to waste our energy on fretting about the competition, but rather to do the very best we possibly could…and let our efforts shine and (hopefully) rise to the top. And God blessed our efforts tremendously.
We could probably have worried less about the details and still had at least a mediocre business that paid the bills. But would our reputation have been as strong? Would we have served our clients to the best of our ability? Would a half-hearted effort have honored? In a nutshell, the answer to these questions is a resounding, “NO!”
There are a lot of people in this world who are skating by with minimal efforts. They don’t “cross the T’s and dot the I’s” – in everything from their appearance to the work they do (both at home and in their place of employment) to how they treat their friends, acquaintances and family members. More importantly, many of them are haphazard at best… and downright shoddy in many cases… when it comes to their Christian discipleship… if they even claim to serve God.
You may have an impeccable worth ethic – in all areas of your life. Or you may be lax in a place or two… or even a total slacker! I encourage you to search your heart…and your daily living…and see where you might need to “tighten the screws” a little. Where are you covering up bad work and disrespecting God with your less-than-faultless efforts? Are you doing the minimum… or are you always giving God your very best in all things? The difference matters… both now and for all eternity!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label doing our best. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doing our best. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 30, 2011
2 Kings 5:1-14
Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. The LORD had helped him and his troops defeat their enemies, so the king of Syria respected Naaman very much.
Naaman was a brave soldier, but he had leprosy. One day while the Syrian troops were raiding Israel, they captured a girl, and she became a servant of Naaman's wife. Some time later the girl said, "If your husband Naaman would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy."
When Naaman told the king what the girl had said, the king replied, "Go ahead! I will give you a letter to take to the king of Israel." Naaman left and took along seven hundred fifty pounds of silver, one hundred fifty pounds of gold, and ten new outfits. He also carried the letter to the king of Israel. It said, "I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy?"
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in fear and shouted, "That Syrian king believes I can cure this man of leprosy! Does he think I'm God with power over life and death? He must be trying to pick a fight with me."
As soon as Elisha the prophet heard what had happened, he sent the Israelite king this message: "Why are you so afraid? Send the man to me, so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel." Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent someone outside to say to him, "Go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then you'll be completely cured."
But Naaman stormed off, grumbling, "Why couldn't he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the LORD his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. What about the Abana River or the Pharpar River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured." His servants went over to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don't you do what he said? Go wash and be cured."
Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. Right away, he was cured, and his skin became as smooth as a child's.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few weeks ago, our telephone began to crackle and buzz when we tried to call someone, so we did all of the recommended troubleshooting procedures suggested by our telephone service provider. When these did not work, I contacted the company and filed a request for repairs. I was told that a technician would come out and repair our phone – within a week! Thankfully we had cell phones for backup. For many folks, this “solution” would have left them without phone service of any kind for several days. And just as promised, the phone was repaired – about five days later!
I was using the Postal Service online options to mail a package, and a question arose for which I could not find an online answer. So I engaged in a LiveChat option. Before I could even ask my question, the rep came online and began typing a long, “canned” answer to what she perceived to be my problem. When I was finally given a chance to type, I asked, “May I have time to ask my question now?” Immediately afterward, we were disconnected. Apparently I was supposed to accept her comments and make them work for my situation.
In both of these cases, the agencies with whom I spoke appeared to take the attitude that “this action is as good as any.” Just like Namaan, who tried to cut corners and take shortcuts to heal his leprosy, I felt like they were saying… “Take it or leave it.” It appeared to me that these people were not willing to put in the time and effort to get the best result – to do their very best. And the outcome was less than satisfactory. Apparently they were satisfied to operate in “blemished skin.”
This is what happened to Namaan… he didn’t listen, and he concluded that bathing in any old river was good enough. And this is what we often do… in life, and in our life in Christ. Our best should be the only option. Nothing else is good enough. We should not give half-hearted efforts to our studies, our family, our jobs, our community, or our church… and most certainly to our Heavenly Father!
We’ve come to a point in this society where a lot of people are doing the bare minimum. Getting by and “making do” are good enough. As long as we make it through another day without the sky falling in on us, we figure we have achieved our goal! Nothing could be further from the truth!
It’s time for us to re-prioritize. We must prayerfully consider what God is calling us to do… in everything from our service to Him to the simplest hobby in which we engage. We need to be striving to do our very best at all times… not just when it is convenient or serves our purposes – and we need to always be listening for God’s voice and guidance.
Ask God to show you what He expects of you… then do everything possible to accomplish this to the very best of your abilities. Make your best the only outcome that is acceptable. Live in a way that honors God and your role as His precious child and servant. Never wear the “blemished skin of a leper”, so to speak… but live your best life every day in the “smooth skin” of a precious child of the Most High God.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. The LORD had helped him and his troops defeat their enemies, so the king of Syria respected Naaman very much.
Naaman was a brave soldier, but he had leprosy. One day while the Syrian troops were raiding Israel, they captured a girl, and she became a servant of Naaman's wife. Some time later the girl said, "If your husband Naaman would go to the prophet in Samaria, he would be cured of his leprosy."
When Naaman told the king what the girl had said, the king replied, "Go ahead! I will give you a letter to take to the king of Israel." Naaman left and took along seven hundred fifty pounds of silver, one hundred fifty pounds of gold, and ten new outfits. He also carried the letter to the king of Israel. It said, "I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy?"
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in fear and shouted, "That Syrian king believes I can cure this man of leprosy! Does he think I'm God with power over life and death? He must be trying to pick a fight with me."
As soon as Elisha the prophet heard what had happened, he sent the Israelite king this message: "Why are you so afraid? Send the man to me, so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel." Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent someone outside to say to him, "Go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then you'll be completely cured."
But Naaman stormed off, grumbling, "Why couldn't he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the LORD his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. What about the Abana River or the Pharpar River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured." His servants went over to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don't you do what he said? Go wash and be cured."
Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. Right away, he was cured, and his skin became as smooth as a child's.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few weeks ago, our telephone began to crackle and buzz when we tried to call someone, so we did all of the recommended troubleshooting procedures suggested by our telephone service provider. When these did not work, I contacted the company and filed a request for repairs. I was told that a technician would come out and repair our phone – within a week! Thankfully we had cell phones for backup. For many folks, this “solution” would have left them without phone service of any kind for several days. And just as promised, the phone was repaired – about five days later!
I was using the Postal Service online options to mail a package, and a question arose for which I could not find an online answer. So I engaged in a LiveChat option. Before I could even ask my question, the rep came online and began typing a long, “canned” answer to what she perceived to be my problem. When I was finally given a chance to type, I asked, “May I have time to ask my question now?” Immediately afterward, we were disconnected. Apparently I was supposed to accept her comments and make them work for my situation.
In both of these cases, the agencies with whom I spoke appeared to take the attitude that “this action is as good as any.” Just like Namaan, who tried to cut corners and take shortcuts to heal his leprosy, I felt like they were saying… “Take it or leave it.” It appeared to me that these people were not willing to put in the time and effort to get the best result – to do their very best. And the outcome was less than satisfactory. Apparently they were satisfied to operate in “blemished skin.”
This is what happened to Namaan… he didn’t listen, and he concluded that bathing in any old river was good enough. And this is what we often do… in life, and in our life in Christ. Our best should be the only option. Nothing else is good enough. We should not give half-hearted efforts to our studies, our family, our jobs, our community, or our church… and most certainly to our Heavenly Father!
We’ve come to a point in this society where a lot of people are doing the bare minimum. Getting by and “making do” are good enough. As long as we make it through another day without the sky falling in on us, we figure we have achieved our goal! Nothing could be further from the truth!
It’s time for us to re-prioritize. We must prayerfully consider what God is calling us to do… in everything from our service to Him to the simplest hobby in which we engage. We need to be striving to do our very best at all times… not just when it is convenient or serves our purposes – and we need to always be listening for God’s voice and guidance.
Ask God to show you what He expects of you… then do everything possible to accomplish this to the very best of your abilities. Make your best the only outcome that is acceptable. Live in a way that honors God and your role as His precious child and servant. Never wear the “blemished skin of a leper”, so to speak… but live your best life every day in the “smooth skin” of a precious child of the Most High God.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 18, 2011
Proverbs 21:31
Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust GOD to bring victory.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When my husband and I built our house four years ago, we created a “safe room” – a concrete block-enclosed structure built into the ground where we can retreat if a tornado or severe storm is approaching. We’ve visited that “safe room” a few times in the last four years. We’ve also seen the devastation that tornadoes and strong winds have brought to others in our area… the complete destruction of homes… and even loss of human life. So we have made sure that we are prepared to the best of our ability to escape physical harm, should a storm come our way.
In truth, we could someday emerge from our “safe room” to find that all above us is gone… that our house has been torn from its foundation, and everything we belong is gone. And yes, we could fail to get to the refuge in time and perish or be injured. But we’ve made the best preparations possible to guard against this, and we are trusting God to do the rest.
In so many areas of life, we don’t do the necessary preparation. We don’t do our best to prepare for the worst… and then we are totally devastated by what results. We don’t have a proper handle on trusting God to bring us victory… much less to see us through what we deem as “total destruction”. We don’t save any money in case an emergency arises. We don’t study like we should, and we drop out of school and have to take a job that, at best, is less than what we hoped for – and may be nothing more than a dead end that leaves us barely making ends meet. We don’t prayerfully consider our relationships with others, and we end up hanging out with people who are going nowhere and drag us down in the process. We don’t build a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father, and when crises come our way, we fall apart with no clue how to pick ourselves up and move forward.
Some who do make preparations fail to follow through on the most important key… trusting God to do what humans cannot. At the end of the day, when you have saved, studied, prayed and prepared, you still must allow God to have the final say. We must always trust that He will orchestrate the final outcomes according to His perfect will… and that we will be able to handle whatever comes our way because of this.
I don’t know what your “storms” are today. I don’t know what preparations you have – or have not – made. But I know that your worst day with God is better than your best day without Him. If you prayerfully plan for the best… and trust God to manage the details and the final outcome… you will be able handle anything. What plans have you made today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Do your best, prepare for the worst— then trust GOD to bring victory.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When my husband and I built our house four years ago, we created a “safe room” – a concrete block-enclosed structure built into the ground where we can retreat if a tornado or severe storm is approaching. We’ve visited that “safe room” a few times in the last four years. We’ve also seen the devastation that tornadoes and strong winds have brought to others in our area… the complete destruction of homes… and even loss of human life. So we have made sure that we are prepared to the best of our ability to escape physical harm, should a storm come our way.
In truth, we could someday emerge from our “safe room” to find that all above us is gone… that our house has been torn from its foundation, and everything we belong is gone. And yes, we could fail to get to the refuge in time and perish or be injured. But we’ve made the best preparations possible to guard against this, and we are trusting God to do the rest.
In so many areas of life, we don’t do the necessary preparation. We don’t do our best to prepare for the worst… and then we are totally devastated by what results. We don’t have a proper handle on trusting God to bring us victory… much less to see us through what we deem as “total destruction”. We don’t save any money in case an emergency arises. We don’t study like we should, and we drop out of school and have to take a job that, at best, is less than what we hoped for – and may be nothing more than a dead end that leaves us barely making ends meet. We don’t prayerfully consider our relationships with others, and we end up hanging out with people who are going nowhere and drag us down in the process. We don’t build a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father, and when crises come our way, we fall apart with no clue how to pick ourselves up and move forward.
Some who do make preparations fail to follow through on the most important key… trusting God to do what humans cannot. At the end of the day, when you have saved, studied, prayed and prepared, you still must allow God to have the final say. We must always trust that He will orchestrate the final outcomes according to His perfect will… and that we will be able to handle whatever comes our way because of this.
I don’t know what your “storms” are today. I don’t know what preparations you have – or have not – made. But I know that your worst day with God is better than your best day without Him. If you prayerfully plan for the best… and trust God to manage the details and the final outcome… you will be able handle anything. What plans have you made today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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