I will keep laboring in the Lord

This morning the words of 1 Corinthians 15:58 came to mind: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 

I must confess that there are many times I have looked at my life and wondered if it has been worth it; this Faith "thing" as some would refer to it. There have been so many tears, so much sowing, and I keep wondering when the harvest and the laughter does come in, as promised in Psalm 126. There are days I have despaired and almost thrown in the towel, especially when in most instances my life has not read like the perfect Christian life, and I feel like the "Black Sheep" in the Body of Christ. It does not help when fellow brethren look at my life and tell me that I must have gone wrong somewhere and so in puzzlement I sit at my Father's feet and question Him on a lot of stuff. However, over the years, I have learned that there is no perfect script with God, especially when one gives himself or herself wholly to Him. When we yield our lives to Him, then He is the One Who is in charge and not us. And I have also learned that He has called me to be unique, and so my trials and temptations, struggles and pain, joys and sorrows, will be unique to me, coz all He longs for is that the life He has given me would glorify Him at all cost.

I know I have cried myself silly over and over, wanting the things that others have, or the lives that others lead, and yet in the very depths of my heart, I have always known that the Lord called me a long time and placed His seal upon me, and in that calling, there is a price I have had to pay. I have committed myself to living for Him and serving Him in every arena of my life. And while the harvest may not be visible, I am reminded that the Christian walk is by faith and not by sight. I have totally emptied myself into lives, some of whom I have not seen or heard from for so many years, and yet I know the harvest does belong to Him. I also know that in emptying in others' lives there is always the risk of being despised or being looked down upon, because unlike those into whose lives I have invested, I seem unsuccessful, a non-starter, and every "un" adjective one could think of. And yet today's Word admonishes me to stand firm, to let nothing move me, to always give myself fully to the work of the Lord because no labor in Him is in vain. It is so easy in today's world to waver, to pursue other things outside God's will so that I can just fit in and be accepted. Who does not want to be accepted? Who does not want to feel like they are loved and appreciated by others?

But the reality of Who God is hits me today as I think about these words and so Father today, as I bow down in Your presence, not even sure of what the future holds, except that You are in that future, I repent of every time I have complained, or fretted, wanting to fit into the mold around me, whether the mold of worldly standards, or church expectations. Forgive me Lord and today I put my hand in Yours and allow You to lead me. For every assignment You have entrusted to me, I give myself to it fully. You alone knows my heart and you know my needs and so rather than look longingly at the things that seem important to us as human beings, I choose to immerse myself in the work You have laid aside for me. 

It may be hard, really difficult, but I made a choice a long time ago, to pay the price, because the reward is greater in heaven than here on this earth. I may not be cut out for man's applause, but oh that I may be found worthy to be told, "Well done good and faithful servant." for that is what I am: a servant. A servant whose terms include standing firm, letting nothing move me, and to always GIVE MYSELF FULLY to the work of the Lord. The only promise I have is that this labor is not in vain and so I take God literally at His Word and do that which I have to do. And for all the labor, it is about His Name being glorified, being honored, so that men everywhere may see His glory and turn their hearts to Him.

Hmmm ... and what a privilege it is to be the Lord's handmaid. What an honor. Shall I really give up? No. Shall I sit back, and miss out on the delights of reaching out to unbelievers, and seeing their lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit? No. shall I sit back and miss the opportunity to pray with and for the lives that God brings my way, and see the working of God in their lives? No. Hmmm ... actually, laboring in the Lord is not in vain. What harvest have I been thinking of? I see the evidence of God's manifestation everywhere in my life: souls are saved, lives are delivered, hearts are mended, smiles are restored, joy is evident, hope is revived. Maybe I have been thinking of harvest in terms of a Billy Graham crusade where thousands get saved? As I wrote this blog, it just occurred to me that the fruit of our labor is in our everyday interactions. The little things we take for granted: when we stop to listen to someone in pain or anguish, when we visit someone in hospital, when we share the Gospel and lead someone to Christ, when we make a phone call that spurs someone to God's purpose, when we buy someone a gift, and so much more. And in doing these little acts, (of course with the larger outreach programs having their place too) we need to do so with all our hearts, totally immersed in them because each person we interact with is brought our way by the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am off to a mission involving high school students this morning. I was not really ready to do this because I was not consulted. Having thought through this scripture this morning, I will go and do that which I have to do with all my heart because God must have determined that I attend this forum, not tomorrow, but today. And so in His wisdom, coz He sees and knows my heart, He dropped this Bible verse in my heart this morning. Indeed I have been rebuked and I repent. I will not let the fact that I was not consulted about going move me or discourage me; instead I will gladly go, coz maybe, just maybe, there is that one soul that the Lord desires that I reach out to, in a very special and meaningful way.