Wednesdays Words of Encouragement: Work Heartily and Rest in that Work by Angela P.

“Do all that you do Angela as unto the Me and if you do this then your focus will not be wrong.”

These are the words that continually ring in my ears.

It is human nature to want to do things so others can take note. Or to do them so that others may recognize what you are doing. Or do them so that you can receive the praise of others. Or so that you receive affirmation of your deeds in the eyes of ___________. (You fill in the blank.)

I can honestly say that I have never bent in that way of wanting to be a *pleaser* of others. Has it come to me to think along those lines? Sure. But it’s not a normal part of my thinking or motives.

I don’t say that in pride but I say that in worship to the Lord because I’m free in that area.

Now, I will say that I’ve been bound in other areas but not in this. I’ll save those topics for another post for Wednesdays Words of Encouragement. 🙂

I remember well the Lord giving me revelation in His Word where this topic is concerned.

If you study from Mark chapters 11-15 you will see some amazing truths:

1. In these chapters you see that the *same* crowd in Jerusalem that sung “Hosanna, Hosanna. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” is the *same* crowd that later shouted, “Crucify Him. Crucify Him.” 

How quickly we see that they turned on the One that they were so affirming at one point.

2. In these chapters you see Jesus sharing the story of the parable of the Wicked Tenants. Jesus taught of a man who owned a vineyard then rented it out. Long story short the owner wanted the tenants to do right and allow his servants to come and glean from the vineyard. Yet the renters would not hear of it nor would allow these various servants to harvest form the vineyard.

The vineyard owner felt that if he were to send his own son that these tenants would certainly treat him well and not harm him as they did the other servants. But sadly, this wasn’t the case. They not only beat the son but they killed the son too.

It didn’t matter who he was, being the son of the owner of this property, he was killed.

3. Then in Mark 12:13-14 we find a profound statement that was spoken to Jesus.

“Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words. They came to Him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because You pay no attention to who they are; but You teach the Way of God in accordance with the truth.”

Others realized that Jesus didn’t *care* about what others say or think of Him or of what they may or may not want Him to do. But that He *stays true* to the Truth and Way of God.

Okay….try this on for size. Consider the following Scripture.

According to Colossians 3:23-24  it says it like this,

“²³ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

So our Lord sets our focus straight for us.

When we homeschool, when we do anything that we do we *must* keep the focus the focus.

DO. NOT. DO. IT. FOR. THE. PRAISE. OF.  MAN. OR. FOR. THE. PURPOSE. OF MAN!

There is ultimately no *joy* in doing what we do for the praise of others.

If we do our works for the pleasure of a person, we must be warned that at one moment we could be praised. And at the very next moment be *crucified* by the very same people.

Or…….consider that no special treatment can truly be given from the heart of men/women without the possibility of those very same *men/women* considering you one to be overtaken.

Ok….so this doesn’t seem very encouraging at all.  I know.

You probably are thinking, “Is there anyone who do not think in such an evil or ungodly way?”

Well, there probably are some with good will and good intentions ONLY because they have allowed the Lord to crucify that area of their hearts and wills.

However, I see from the heart of the lesson in these Scriptures is that we should not put full value in the words and good will of others but only in the Lord’s.

That we should value what the Lord thinks of us and what we do. Not in what others thinks of us or of what we do.

I firmly believe that if we keep focus on this truth then we will find that,

There is no room for competition,

There is no room for being concerned of what others are doing or not doing,

There is no room to compare oneself,

There is no room for feeling that what you are doing isn’t good enough in the eyes of others,

There is no room to worry about the voices of others.

There WILL only be room to recognize that what you are doing and what we desire to do is for the honor, glory and name of the Lord.

Especially if you know that He’s called you to it. That you have no other ulterior motive than for the pleasure of the Lord.

So to my fellow homeschooling Moms, to my fellow workers of the Kingdom, to my fellow siblings of the King of kings, let us keep the focus the focus.

Obeying the Lord. Pleasing the Lord. Working as unto the Lord.

For this is our highest duty and call as ones who are followers of Him!

Be free to do what you are called to do for His heart only. For His eyes only. For His affirmation only.

And as we work heartily unto this end then we can rest in that work.

Blessings in the resting,

Angela P.