Do the Work

 

A friend called today. She wanted to tell me about a call to ministry that already has its challenges. She had felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to start a new ministry in her church but there are obstacles. I thank God that she knows Him well enough to know that the call is from Him. In some respects that makes the obstacles more difficult. She has to confront the obstacles to be obedient to God. It would be easier if she could just back off and avoid the conflict!

One of the obstacles is another Christian. It reminds me of the time that Paul had to confront Peter in Galatians 2:11. Paul tells it like this in verses 11-13, “But when Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.”

Peter was allowing others to stop him from doing what God had clearly called him and Paul to do – preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. These Jewish leaders were looking at their own list of rules. Because Peter was a Jew by birth they didn’t want him to eat with uncircumcised Gentiles. Paul knew his mission was to the Gentiles (Romans 1:13, 3:29). Eating with them would be a part of their ministry!

This is the lesson for my friend. Rather than throw up his hands and quit, Paul confronts the obstacle so they can keep preaching! He would not be swayed by Peter’s fear of men or by “religious” leaders who didn’t have an understanding of the call to preach.

Now, my friend is not being called to preach but she is trying to faithfully answer God’s call on her life. She does not want to abandon the call because someone else isn’t dealing with it correctly.

What ministry or work has God called you to do in your church or perhaps in a para-church agency? Are you allowing the fear of what other people may think or what they may say to run you off track? If the call is from God He will clear the path and open the doors. Our job is to walk through that open door and begin the work. David said to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 29:20 regarding the work of building the temple of God, “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you, He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”

We are to love, serve, and encourage each other in the body of Christ. This happens when people do the work that God calls them to do. We are most satisfied in His call and He is most satisfied with us when we respond to His specific call to us. Just as God moved Paul to deal with Peter’s disobedience, if there is an obstacle in the way of the work God is calling you to do, give it to God. He can and will remove any obstacle.

So, what are His expectations of you and me? “Do the work.” Add to that, “Pray without ceasing,” and we will see God’s blessing on His work through you and me.

Proverbs 16:3says, “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

You commit yours, I’ll commit mine, and let’s see if we can remain as faithful to our call as Paul and Peter did to theirs.