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John 9:1-4
Message No. 0525 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca
The advent of wholesale 24-hour work has been credited by some to the latter part of the industrial revolution, when light bulbs were invented, making it possible for workers to see properly inside factories at night. Coupled with the need for more work as population increased and the demand for goods and services increased, night shifts became an acceptable way to work. However, night work is not without its own negatives as people’s lives are affected, obviously because God did not create the night for work. He wanted us to use the night to sleep and to recoup energy for the next day’s work. Unfortunately, though there are research works suggesting that those who work continuous night shifts face life-altering issues (God forbid, as we Christians would say), there doesn’t seem to be any going back as societies have become more capitalistic than in the past and profit has become an overriding determinant of company policies. For those who have to work night shifts, our God will double your strength in Jesus’ name.
In John chapter 9 verses 1-4, the Bible says that Jesus was passing a certain place and saw a man who was blind from birth, and his disciples asked him whether or not it was the man’s sin or his parents’ that was responsible for his blindness. In response, Jesus said, neither, then he added in verse 4:
“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
Now, of course, Jesus was only using the analogy of night work to bring His message home; by night, He was actually referring to working at old age when the energy is no longer there, and by so doing, teaching us all a lesson on when to spend our energy working for God. No man can work at night, Jesus said, because, though we suddenly realize that we are lagging behind in God’s work, it’s too late, since we cannot practically do more work at old age.
The natural question that emanates from Jesus’ message is, when are you planning to do God’s work? If you are not doing it now, what is stopping you? In Ecclesiastes 12:1-2, the Bible says:
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain
Each time I stay awake at night, it means that the following day will be challenging for me. My eyes will be heavy, unsettled and asking me to go to sleep. I will be unable to concentrate until I have had some hours of sleep. No matter how adaptive we are, nature does take its toll at some point. Those who have to work at night because their professions demand it would tell you that night shift is not their first choice, except for few who choose it because they have to do something important during the day.
If night work is so challenging, it follows that we should not wait until our energy has been used up before we do God’s work. What is God’s work, someone might ask? We need to know that working for God does not mean that we are pastors, evangelists or teachers. We can do much more than being any of these. God’s work could be soul winning (a job for everyone), praying, helping, serving in several different capacities in the church, including greeting, singing, ushering, cleaning, attending at car parks, etc. Sometimes just attending church regularly serves as encouragement to some new converts. Everyone has a role to play in God’s Kingdom. No one has to start big; we just need to identify what we can do and pray about it and start. Sometimes it’s when we start doing something that God shows us what we really need to do, and if He doesn’t, then we continue doing what we are doing.
When working for God, let us be careful not to seek the approval or appreciation of man. If we are recognized and appreciated, thank God, but if not, we should never stop because, really, we are working for the audience of One: our God and our Master. He, it is, whose appreciation is far greater than our expectations. When we grow older and strength is no longer supportive of what we do, we can look back and thank God for what we were able to accomplish. But, if we do nothing when we have the strength, then it becomes difficult to see anything when, in future, we look back at our youth. Jesus Christ worked when He was youthful and energetic. Let us work now while we have the opportunity. May God bless you as you start!
Please remember to share this message with your friends and to encourage them to subscribe. That’s part of God’s work, by the way. Have a wonderful week!
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PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
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