As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4
As I think about people that are sick and shut-in, I cannot help but feel a sense of urgency to do my very best every day while I still can. Many of us take it for granted that time is not promised to no one. We have all been given a limited amount of time on earth, and it is imperative that we make the best of our time. Unfortunately, so many of us waste too much of our limited time on earth doing things that are worthless and destructive.
In John 9:4, Jesus told the disciples, “We must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work.” What a powerful statement! Indeed, the time is coming for us all when we will not be able to work. For some, that will be due to old age for others that will be due to sickness. As I write this devotional, many elderly individuals are bed-ridden and unable to do anything for themselves. Their night has come, and they cannot do any work. Whereas their mind may still be, they lack the physical ability or emotional stability to be engaged in meaningful work. Thousands are fighting Coronavirus, and their lives are hanging by a thread.
Those of us who are still able to work for the Lord should do so with passion, godliness, and consistency. Some of us have to get over our fear of rejection and our fear of not measuring up as we endeavor to do our best every day. The truth is that nothing we do individually will ever be good enough. Someone somewhere is always going to be better than we are. However, we have to live our individual life with purpose and not be encumbered with fear.
Do not wait for tomorrow to do what you can do today. As long as it is day, serve with godliness and live with a spirit of grace. Whatever you do, do it with excellence. The writer of Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that “we were created for good works.” In Philippians 4:8 we are exhorted, “finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
We should be careful not to be so invested in worldly pursuits as to forget about our eternal purpose. As believers, all of our physical activities should have an eternal purpose. I like the way the writer of Colossians 3:17 puts it, “and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
At this stage in my life, I am conscientious about everything I say and do. I want all my words to be impacting and my actions to be transformative. Above all, I want God to be pleased with everything that I do. So I try to do my very best while I can. In the end, we must not forget that what we do in time echoes in eternity.
Living for God is my most enormous privilege. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ is my greatest gift. Serving others with love and grace is my greatest ministry. The way I live for God, operate as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and serve others is my legacy. Therefore, I endeavor to do my very best every day in Jesus' name, and so should you.
In the end, people should remember us for our commitment and dedication to God's will. Our name should be synonymous with perseverance and industriousness as kingdom workers. People may not remember all the things we said, but our deeds should be our reasonable worship of Almighty God. So whether we live thirty years or eighty years, we live in the urgency of time because we must do the works of him who sent us. Night is coming when no one can work.
Prayer- Father, please help us do our very best every day to bring glory to your name.
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