Based on “Content with Who God Made Me” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 4/28-29/12,
Message #6095; Daily Devotional #5 - “Mind Your Business”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Galatians 6:4, The Message) When was the last time you “made a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given”? It should be an examination that we do often and with great honesty. We need to ask ourselves questions like: What have I been gifted to do; what talents do I have that I can use to glorify God; what portion of the human race have I been burdened for, and when was the last time I ministered there? Tough questions, but here in these verses Paul is requiring us to address our purpose in the earth. What spiritual path have I been born to walk? Sadly, sometimes, we can become so distracted by living and comparing ourselves to others that we forget exactly why we are here, a situation in which Satan delights.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): Sometimes it’s not just the hectic pace of life that distracts us, but the burdens of life that cause us to disqualify ourselves from any type of ministry. Laden with fear, anxiety, stress, rejection, depression and doubt as we compare ourselves to others, we find it difficult to climb up on “the wall” and take our rightful position. But there is good news! Jesus Christ has offered to take those burdens and replace them with His yoke, which is light and easily borne (Matthew 11:28-30). He died and resurrected so that we wouldn’t have to carry our own baggage any more. His sacrifice on Calvary cut the cords of any burdensome yoke that has entangled us. Now, free to serve, minister and love, we are all able to appropriate the inheritance that was bought for us 2000 years ago and be who He made us each to be.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): So the only burden that we must bear is the burden that has been placed in our heart by The Holy Spirit! What community of people pulls at your heart strings the strongest? Is it the lost, the hurting, the abandoned, the confused or the misled? Do they live on the streets or in nursing homes or other countries? Do they occupy jail cells or hospital beds, are they in dysfunctional lifestyles, do they have harmful or dark professions, or do they work alongside you every day? It’s very simple really: we have a Savior who provides all of our needs, and a Light that needs to shine forth to a dying world. Do we trust Him completely to care for us spiritually, financially, physically and emotionally, allowing Him to use us to advance His cause in the earth, or do we stand on the sidelines, unnecessarily burdened down by life, and envy those that do? If you are one of those standing on the sidelines, mind your business and serve the Lord! (Consider joining GMO.)
Cultivating (Additional Reading): 1 Corinthians 10:31
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Calvary Chapel of Melbourne; 2955 Minton Road; W. Melbourne, FL 32904; 321-952-9673
All Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
The Message = MSG.