Monday, February 12, 2018

Working For God's Favor

Not long ago a student came into my office and asked, “Dr. Guido, will you do a favor for me?”
Without knowing what favor the student wanted, it was obvious that I had a certain amount of power over him and could do something for him that he could not do for himself. He literally was at my mercy.
Moses concluded Psalm 90 with a gracious reminder of God’s power and our need to work for His favor. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us,” he wrote. And then he described how we could know that God’s favor was on our work: God Himself would establish the work of our hands. “Establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.” When Moses added the “for us” he underlined the fact that God Himself is the One who established our work, not us. Whatever we do is temporary. Whatever God does through us is eternal.
How, then, can we work with God to establish works that are eternal? Paul gives us a clear answer: “Stand firm. Let nothing disturb you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
But just what is “the work of the Lord?” we ask.
Jesus answered that: “Love the Lord Your God with all your heart – and love your neighbor as yourself.” And “who is my neighbor,” someone asked? His answer: “Anyone who has a spiritual, emotional or physical need.”
It is difficult to go from one place to another without seeing someone who has some need. Our work? Meet it.
Prayer: Father, open our eyes to see the needs of others, our ears to hear their cries and use our hands to give help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture for Today: Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

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