Taking It to Work:
The message today may seem more personal in nature than workplace oriented, speaking more directly to the true position of our heart with God, than maybe our disposition at work. But in reality, they are very closely related. Challenging Sunday messages and the scriptures that we have today in this devotional, set a very high bar. It is the rest of the week, at home and work, when we try to clear that bar.
For me, I know I’m clearing that bar when my old nature doesn’t take over as soon as something goes awry. If my outward disposition remains calm, considerate and patient when things go wrong, that usually is an indicator that my personal walk with the Lord is healthy. If I easily slip into impatience and anger, that usually indicates that my walk in the holy ways of God might be slipping as well. Not always, sometimes its lack of sleep or an extraordinary load of stress or pressure, but I always have to honestly look at myself first, before I blame those other things.
I have heard it said before that there is no such thing as personal sin. Our inward struggles are always worn on the outside in some fashion, and others see and feel it, maybe even without us even realizing it. Thankfully, the opposite is true as well. Those who hate their sin, and make great effort to walk uprightly with God, those are the people who are generally a joy to be around, exuding peace in turmoil, and maintaining a great disposition, even when the stress of work and life try to pull them down.
I have been on both ends of the spectrum, and I know my old sin nature must be crucified Monday through Saturday, or Sunday won’t have mattered much. I’m guessing I’m not alone.
David prayed for God to show him any sin that might be holding him back, that was grieving the heart of his Lord. He needed his sin kicked out, and God’s blessing let in. He needed to clear the high bar he knew God expected of him. We need to make that our prayer too. David had a big job to do, and lots of people were affected by his personal walk.
It’s the same for us, as His Word works in you, and me, today.
Ps 84:11 (ESV) – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Col 3:5-10 (ESV) – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Isaiah 33:15-16 (ESV) – He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
Ps 139:23-24 (ESV) – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Listening to the Holy Spirit (Rhema):
He who calls upon My Name will be saved from eternal separation. My blood spares the saint, but not all who call Me Lord speak truth. Grace is given to those with true desire for mercy, disturbed greatly by their sin, willing to abandon self for My Kingdom and way. To these who trust, drawn by the Father, these are to whom I share the Kingdom. The one who loves his darkness will know no such disdain of the dark, and true redemption will not be his. He will return only in remorse, and leave again for his mistress. Such a man is double-minded, unstable and without hope. His lord changes with the wind, and his temper, proof of the discord. He who truly lives, truly dies to self. Slow is the crucifixion, but the death of this nature is certain by it. Those hung were killed in hatred for their deeds; so too must you hate your sin. It shall die no other way. Holy do I call you, that your old master would be no more, and the deeds of the past would be covered by My blood, and your name would be written with those who believe that I AM, and do as I command.
