Garden Where Your Planted

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 

Genesis 2:15 NIV

I've been working on a project at work and it's really starting to come together. It feels good to work hard and produce something. That's the way God made us. Just as God took Adam and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it God has put us where we are to work it and take care of it.

Where has God placed you? If you're married, that's your marriage, your spouse. If you have children you have them. How can you help your wife and children grow. It's not just providing food, clothing and a home, it's about providing an atmosphere and opportunities so that everyone can flourish. 

When I think of work I think about Joseph. Sold into slavery. Falsely accused and thrown into prison. Raised up to put in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Where ever he ended up he worked hard and God blessed his efforts. He worked whatever garden he ended up in. Sometimes we wonder about the garden God has given us to work and care for, but, God has unfailing love for you and your family and he is Sovereign Lord over everything. A desert garden looks different than garden by a river. But, each one, when worked and cared for will produce what they are supposed to produce. So, I encourage you to garden where you are planted and trust God to make you fruitful.  

Shhhhh! / Titus 3:1-2

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable, and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1-2

The past few years have held a bit of a dilemma for me. A couple of people I worked with operated in a manner I just didn't agree with. I had to deal with them and the backlash of how they treated other people. The difficulty is not in telling the truth. The challenge of grace is to tell the truth in the spirit of grace and love. For me that has meant there were times when I had to bite my tongue and not interject a comment about them into some conversations. Sometimes, in the middle of a statement I could sense the Spirit convicting me that I was going over the line. Shhh!

Two interesting thoughts here. One, the word for slander in the Greek is where we get the word blaspheme. It also has a sense of to vilify. To be honest, I kind of look at these people as villains.  But, I don't need to go on and on about how bad they are. Frankly, their actions have spoken louder than anything I could say and their reputations are set in stone. My response is to be peaceable and considerate with a healthy dose of humility. Shhh!

I think it was the movie Jumanji where a character tries to cheat the game by rolling early and his penalty is to be turned into a monkey. Another character asks him if he cheated and he replied something like he just tried to get ahead and she said, "That would be cheating." Sometimes we want to say, "I just..." and the Spirit says, "That would be wrong. Shhh!"

Trust God to deal with others, you just do what is right. 

Father, help us to do what is right by faith and to do what is good. Praise be to you in us today!

NEVER TIRE OF DOING GOOD: II Thessalonians 3:13

I am sure that almost everyone has been on one end or both of the "I don't care what everyone else is doing, you do what is right" conversation. In the middle of an exhortation the Apostle Paul reminds the Thessalonians to just keep doing what is right.

"And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right." II Thessalonians 3:13

Sometimes, doing what is right, can be like swimming upstream. A bit hard but you know it is the right way to go. Yes, living a life as a servant of Jesus Christ can be seem hard. But, God will in one way or another refresh you. 

It is amazing that so many who call themselves preachers or ministers forget that they are called to serve, not be served. I understand that sometimes when you lead you need to sort of spread out the load with those who are serving with you. But, that is different from being unwilling to do some hard work. 

The point of what Paul is saying is that serving God is always about serving others. And in particular he is talking about paying your own way. I once shared a house with some other Christian brothers. One guy thought God told him to not work and just worship all day. Well, when he ran out out money he wanted to eat everyone else's food. We all told him that if God was guiding God would provide, outside of our food. He started working again. 

Never tire of doing good.

Father, help us to always trust you and never tire of doing good. Praise be to you in us today.