February 29 I Saturday

Numbers 19

Mark 6:41-56

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’” 
—Philippians 2:14-15

The Christian life is about us fully submitting our lives to God. And when we do, we are living under His agenda. We trust God to have His way with us as Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (NKJV). This is a promise of God, but His promises are conditional and made within the context of a relationship with Him. Our end is to acknowledge God in all our ways and He will automatically undertake to guide us. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

A life with Jesus will be a life of service because we are on His business, wherever He has placed us. We may have the most mundane jobs in the world, but we should not be disparaged by it. In time, God will likely move us on, but wherever we are presently we are there for His purpose. It is usually in an overwhelmingly secular environment where we do not see any evidence of a relationship with God. But as Christians, we are the light of Christ in that environment, as Jesus said, “You are the light of the world...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).

This is not, by any means, a “‘higher”’ Christian life or a “deeper”’ Christian life. The late English Christian evangelist Leonard Ravenhill once said, “Christianity today is so subnormal that if any Christian began to act like a normal New Testament Christian, he would be considered abnormal.” Our “normal” Christian life is not the result of our ability to imitate God, but His ability to direct our lives and reproduce Himself in us.

To the outside world, it seems revolutionary and perhaps radical, but it is also real. Working with Jesus gives divine purpose to any job we do. In the words of Paul, “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour in vain” (Philippians 2:15-16). The Christian life is not about perfection, but about our availability. It is about an intimate and loving relationship with Jesus in which He discloses His plans to us and puts us to work in union with Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, grant me a servant spirit in which I deeply desire to work in union with You. And wherever you place me, Lord, keep me alert to opportunities where I may serve You. Thank You, Lord.