May 30, 2020 Value and Purpose

I was whining to the Lord this morning, and He quietly and profoundly spoke, “Things of value and purpose take much effort.” Don’t you just love the Lord, and how with just a few words He can quiet our minds so we can see more clearly the path He has for each day? 
 
We all desire to have purpose in our lives – it is a huge cry of our hearts.  That is usually one of the questions we ask ourselves when we start our search to have a relationship with Jesus.  Then as we grow in our faith, it seems to be a recurring plea, “What is My purpose in the Kingdom of God?”
 
We also desire for the things we do to have value, especially to the Lord.  Value means: worth, importance, productive, significance, to make a difference. We want the thing we spend our time on to be treasured by the Lord for eternity.  I think of the verse in 1 Corinthians 3 about the materials we use to build things for the Lord.  Are the things that we spend our time doing have value so that they will last the testings of life?   
 
1 Corinthians 3:12-14  Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
 
I was reminded of Nehemiah when God put upon his heart to go to Jerusalem and lead the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.  Great effort was needed to do this work, especially in the midst of great opposition and threats by persistent enemies. 
 
Nehemiah 6:16  When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
 
We must always remember, God is the One who is partnering with us to accomplish His purposes for our lives and the Kingdom of God!
 
Isaiah 46:9-11  "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';  Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.
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