Doing the Work

 

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

 

A friend is meeting obstacles in ministry. She felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit and started a new work in her church. The obstacles are difficult because they are from within the church. She has to confront them to be obedient to God.  It would be easier if she could just back off and avoid the conflict!

Her situation reminds me of the time that Paul had to confront Peter in Galatians 2:11-13, “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 to the Gentiles (Romans 1:13, 3:29).  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, knowing his mission, knew eating with them would be a part of that ministry!

Paul sets a bold example. Rather than throw up his hands and quit, he confronts the obstacle so they can keep preaching.  He would not be swayed by Peter’s fear of men or by “religious” leaders who were protecting their own beliefs, unconcerned about what God wanted.

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.

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 (emphasis mine).  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.  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, deal with it and continue to serve the Lord.

What ministry or work has God called you to do? 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 do the work (while praying without ceasing).