Speaker: Paul Diaz

Theme: True Greatness

Weekend Music links on iTunes:  All Because of Jesus I'm Alive by Fee; Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin; Glory to God Forever by Fee; Came to my Rescue by Hillsong United.

Read: Philippians 2:1-4; Colossians 3:23-24

Think: Lately, I've been doing a lot of job searching (Shh! Don't tell anyone!), though not from dissatisfaction, but because I'm preparing to move in September and need to make sure I'm provided for when I leave. Though looking into the possibilities of the future is exhilarating, the work to get there is not. For me, the worst part of job searching--besides not finding anything--is the cover letter. 

Not only is it hard to convey my worth in about 300 words or less, I feel so prideful trying to lobby for why I would be better than anyone else for this position. I appreciate having the internet nearby to research sample letters to give me ideas of how to do this gracefully; I've found the ones that impress me the most are the ones that specifically present how their gifts and skills can benefit the company's mission and goals, in a sense presenting themselves as an offering to be used the way they were created to work in order to benefit the company.

We've also been given a job description as Christians. Pastor Paul reminded us on Sunday of Jesus' commission to us, "…Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation" (Mark 16:15). I’ve seen myself approach this calling with pride and arrogance, as well as strife and hard labor, but I’ve noticed that when I’m doing that, it’s because I’m trying to proclaim God’s good news out of my own energy and for my own glory. But God reminds me to “…consider others better than [myself]”

(Phil 2:3), and that my job description is also about offering my gifts to Him so that others might see His mission and His goals, which is to love them and give them a purpose for their lives. It is at that point that my job is no longer a job, but a life lived in delightful devotion through God’s grace that empowers me to do His work.

Do: Think about whatever you do for a living, considering that, whether or not it’s what you’ve intended for this time of your life, that the Lord has special plans and purposes for what He wants to do in and through you. Think about your coworkers and the daily tasks that you perform. Ask the Lord to show you how to present yourself in humble service to the blessing of those people and the fullness of integrity in your work.

Pray:

Lord, I know that You have given me amazing gifts and talents that are to be used to bless others and serve them. Show me the great love You have for the people around me so that, in freely offering back to You all the good and perfect gifts You given to me, I might demonstrate to others the love that You have for them. 

 The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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