June 24 and 25

Read Exodus 31:1-11

A bricklayer whose brother was a famous violinist was talking with the head of the construction company where he worked. "It must be great to have a brother who is known around the world," said the executive. He quickly added, "Of course, we must accept the fact that talent isn't equally distributed—even in the same family."
"That's right," replied the bricklayer. "Why, my brother doesn't know the first thing about bricklaying. It's a good thing he can afford to pay others to build a house for him."
This story reminds us that we've each been given unique abilities by God. We have been taught a definition of the word “minister” that is incorrect. We picture one of a couple things at the church that is ministry, but being a doctor, lawyer, firemen, bricklayer, and any other career is just as much ministry as the preacher is a minister. If our motive is to glorify God and benefit others, we have no reason to be ashamed of what we do for a living. Exodus 31 tells us that God gave certain people special skills to work in gold, in silver, in cutting jewels, and in all kinds of workmanship to help build the tabernacle.
If you are a construction worker, a teacher, a trash hauler, a plumber, a doctor, a carpenter, a writer, a mechanic, a scientist, an assembly-line worker, a secretary, or any other kind of worker whose occupation contributes to the welfare of others, you have a God-honoring job. Do your job like souls depended on it because they do. The preacher will never have an effect on people if everyone didn’t touch and influence their coworkers and friends. In His sight it is an opportunity to serve Him in the place He has provided—just for you. Remember, you are one of a kind, and no one else can do the work God has for you.

“There are two kinds of talent, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.”
-Pearl Bailey

June 25

Read Galatians 5:15-26

I read a humorous story about a man who strolled out of a hardware store with a smile on his face and a brand-new chainsaw in his hands. He was told it could cut down five big oak trees in an hour. Twenty-four hours later, however, his smile was gone. Frustrated, he was back at the store complaining that the saw would never cut five trees in an hour. "It took me all day to cut down five trees," he said.
Puzzled, the store owner stepped outside with the saw, gave the cord a swift pull, and fired up the steel-toothed beast. Its deafening roar sent the customer stumbling to get away. "What's that noise?" he gasped. Just wait, you'll get it!
It's ridiculous for someone to try to cut down trees with a chainsaw without starting it up. But that's how foolish we are as Christians when we try to live for Christ in our own strength. We get frustrated and spiritually exhausted when we try to work things out on our own terms and according to our own schedule. We fail to draw on the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us (Romans 8:9-11).
True power only comes when we are plugged into the right outlet. We are in the right outlet when our worship and praise ushers His presence to where we are and that presence is turned to pure power when we rely on Him. The source of power is always stronger at the source, rather than several circuits.
Where is your life plugged in today? Have you taken the time to plug into His desires, or are you dwelling in your own agenda? When you place yourself in the flow of His dreams for you, there is nothing in this world that can stand up to the power that will envelop you.

“Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.”
- Ayn Rand