Colossians 3:23 • Purpose

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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

NOW, AS YOU TAKE YOUR SEATS,
LET ME TELL YOU I APPRECIATE
THAT REAFFIRMATION OF YOUR
FAITH, BUT EVEN AS YOU AFFIRM
YOUR FAITH IN THAT WAY, I WANT
TO TELL YOU:  I KNOW IT CAN BE
HARD TO SAY, "I WILL FOLLOW
JESUS."
NOT JUST HERE WHERE WE ARE AMONG
FRIENDS AND WHERE OUR SOULS RISE
IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD BUT WHERE
WE MEET LIFE'S GREAT CHALLENGES
AT WORK, IN DIFFICULT PLACES
WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE, STILL
SAYING, "I WILL FOLLOW JESUS.
I WILL TAKE MY STAND."
THAT IS ACTUALLY WHAT WE ARE
BEING CALLED TO DO IN EVERY
PLACE.
IN COLOSSIANS 3 AND VERSE 17,
THE APOSTLE BEGINS THIS WAY:
"WHATEVER YOU DO, IN WORD OR
DEED, DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME
OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS
TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM."
AND JUST SO THAT WE KNOW THAT
EVERYTHING INCLUDES OUR
WORKPLACES, THE APOSTLE SAYS IN
VERSE 23, "WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK
HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD AND
NOT FOR MEN."
IT IS THE REMINDER THAT EVERY
PLACE THAT WE GO WE ARE ON GOD'S
HOLY GROUND.
THE WORDS OF ABRAHAM KUYPER NOT
SO LONG AGO, "THERE IS NOT ONE
SQUARE INCH ON THIS WORLD OVER
WHICH JESUS DOES NOT STAND AND
SAY, 'THIS IS MINE; THIS IS
MINE.'"
WHICH MEANS WORK, SCHOOL,
NEIGHBORHOOD:  THAT IS HOLY
GROUND AND WE SERVE GOD IN
WORSHIP IN THAT PLACE WHEN WE DO
OUR WORK.
MARTIN LUTHER SO LONG AGO,
PERCEIVING THE REALITY THAT
EVERY PERSON SERVES IN A HOLY
PLACE BECAUSE IT'S HOLY GROUND
BEFORE GOD, SAID, "WE OUGHT TO
HAVE ORDINATION SERVICES FOR
BRICKLAYERS."
AFTER ALL, THE WORK THEY DO IS
HOLY BEFORE GOD .
AS THEY DO HONEST WORK, THEY ARE
DOING HOLY WORK.
AND MY GOAL THIS MORNING IS NOT
JUST THAT YOU WOULD HEAR ME SAY
THAT, BUT THE REALITY OF DOING
HOLY WORK FOR GOD IN WHATEVER
PLACE HE CALLS YOU TO WORK WOULD
PENETRATE YOUR OWN MINDSET, YOUR
UNDERSTANDING, THAT YOU WOULD
TAKE JOY FROM THE PRIVILEGE OF
SERVING GOD WHEREVER HE CALLS
YOU.
YOU WOULD NOT BE LIKE THAT
BRICKLAYER THAT MARTIN LUTHER
APPROACHED ONE TIME AND SAID,
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
AND THE BRICKLAYER SAID, "WELL,
I'M LAYING BRICKS."
MARTIN LUTHER ASKED THE ONE
BESIDE HIM, "WHAT ARE YOU
DOING?"
SAID THAT BRICKLAYER, "I'M
BUILDING A CATHEDRAL TO THE
GLORY OF GOD."
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE
THE BRICKS THAT WE LAY, THE WORK
THAT WE DO, EVERY PLACE WE ARE
AS BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR
GOD AND BRING GLORY TO HIM.
HOW DO WE DO THAT?
HOW DO WE BEGIN TO PERCEIVE AND
ACT AS THOUGH THE WORK THAT WE
DO IS PART OF OUR PROFESSION OF
JESUS CHRIST?
WE BEGIN BY UNDERSTANDING OUR
VOCATION IS ACTUALLY OUR
PROFESSION.
NOW, WE USE THOSE WORDS
DIFFERENT IN MODERN TIMES.
OUR VOCATION IS WHAT WE DO.
BUT LAST WEEK I REMINDED YOU
THAT COMES FROM THE WORD VOCAL,
AND VOCATION IS ACTUALLY OUR
CALLING, THIS WEEK TO BE
REMINDED THAT OUR PROFESSION IS
ACTUALLY WHAT WE PROFESS ABOUT
THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD AND HIS RELATIONSHIP
WITH US.
OUR VOCATION IS ACTUALLY OUR
PROFESSION.
WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY PROFESSING
IN OUR WORK?
VERSE 17, "WHATEVER YOU DO, IN
WORD OR DEED, DO EVERYTHING IN
THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS."
IF YOU DO SOMETHING IN SOMEONE'S
NAME, YOU REPRESENT THEM AND YOU
PROMOTE THEM:  I'M DOING THIS IN
THE NAME OF THAT PERSON.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE
ARE IN THE WORKPLACE, WE
ACTUALLY HAVE UPON US, EVERY ONE
OF US WHO IS A CHRISTIAN, THE
NAME OF CHRIST UPON US.
WE TAKE CHRIST'S NAME INTO THE
WORKPLACE, INTO THE--, WHAT WE
ARE CALLED TO DO.
KATHY AND I HAVE A FRIEND WHO'S
A MARATHON RUNNER, AND HE WAS IN
A RACE SOME TIME AGO THAT HE
WOULD KNEW WOULD BE TOUGH,
PARTICULARLY AT THE END.
AND KNOWING WHAT HAPPENS AT THE
ENDS OF RACES, HOW PEOPLE CALL
OUT ENCOURAGEMENT, HE PUT ON HIS
RACING BIB, NOT HIS NAME, BUT
ACTUALLY WROTE ON THE RACING BIB
THE WORD "CHRISTIAN."
SO THAT WHEN HE GOT TO THAT
FINAL MILE AND ALL THE PEOPLE
ARE CHEERING THEY WOULDN'T SAY,
"GO, JACK; GO, BILL":  THEY
WOULD SAY, "GO GET 'EM,
CHRISTIAN."
[LAUGHTER]
"YOU CAN DO IT, CHRISTIAN."
"HANG IN THERE, CHRISTIAN."
AND HE RECOGNIZED HE WAS RUNNING
WITH THE NAME OF HIS SAVIOR UPON
HIM.
WHEN WE ARE IN THE WORKPLACE, WE
BEAR THE NAME; WE WEAR THE NAME
OF OUR SAVIOR.
AND THAT HAS CERTAIN
IMPLICATIONS FOR US.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE
REPRESENTING HIS CHARACTER AND
HIS CARE IN OUR PRACTICES AND IN
OUR PRODUCTS.
IF I AM REPRESENTING, SEEKING TO
HONOR MY SAVIOR IN MY PRACTICES,
I REPRESENT HIS CHARACTER; HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS TO BE SEEN IN
MY INTEGRITY.
SO MY ANNUAL REPORTS AND MY
REVIEWS ARE HONEST.
I DON'T CHEAT CUSTOMERS IN
PRICING OR IN BILLING.
I DON'T CHEAT THE BOSS ON TIME
CORD--, CARDS OR ON EXPENSE
REPORTS, EVEN IF OTHERS DO.
I DON'T LIE TO REGULATORS.
I DON'T LIE TO THE I.R.S.
WHY?
BECAUSE I'M WEARING THE NAME OF
JESUS.
I AM REPRESENTING HIM IN WHAT I
DO.
HIS CHARACTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
IS REPRESENTED IN MY INTEGRITY.
HIS JUSTICE IS TO BE SEEN IN OUR
FAIRNESS.
WE DON'T SHOW FAVORITISM AND WE
DON'T RIDE THE PEOPLE THAT WE
DON'T LIKE.
WE GIVE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND
WE TRY TO TREAT OTHERS AS WE
OURSELVES WOULD WISH TO BE
TREATED.
AND THAT'S NOT JUST LIP SERVICE
TO SOMETHING:  IT'S ACTUALLY
LIVING THAT WAY.
DICK HALVERSON, THE LONGTIME
PASTOR OF FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND
THEN THE SENATE CHAPLAIN, SPOKE
ONE TIME OF A BUSINESSMAN WHO'D
BEEN CONVERTED IN HIS CHURCH AND
WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN
HIS WORKPLACE AND REPORTED TO
HIS PASTOR AT ONE POINT, "I
DECIDED TO GIVE NEW TESTAMENTS
TO ALL OF MY EMPLOYEES AND TO
ALL OF MY CUSTOMERS."
AND DICK HALVERSON WHO KNEW
SOMETHING OF THE MAN SAID,
"WELL, THAT'S WONDERFUL, BUT IT
MIGHT BE BETTER IF YOU GAVE THEM
SOME RESPECT."
YOU BEAR ON YOU THE NAME OF
JESUS IN HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE
WITH JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS.
HIS CHARACTER IS REPRESENTED IN
SUCH A WAY THAT HIS HEART IS TO
BE SEEN IN OUR COMPASSION.
SO WE GIVE PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES
AND OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE.
WE PROVIDE HELP OR COACHING FOR
THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
AND IF IT WORKS OUT POORLY AND
WE CANNOT MAKE IT WORK, WE
WRESTLE AND WEEP OVER THE HARD
DECISIONS, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE TO
MAKE THEM.
WE ARE NOT CALLOUSED TO THE
DIFFICULT THINGS.
WE REPRESENT THE HEART OF OUR
SAVIOR.
WE ARE GENEROUS WITH GOD'S
PROVISION, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE
GOD'S PEOPLE AND THOSE NOT YET
GOD'S PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW HIM
THROUGH WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE IN
OUR OWN MEANS FOR THE WORK OF
THE CHURCH AND THE WORK OF
MISSIONS.
FINALLY, TO REPRESENT HIS
CHARACTER, HIS HUMILITY IS TO BE
SEEN IN OUR HUMILITY.
WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE THE
FIRST WORD.
WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE THE
LAST WORD.
AND WE DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO HAVE
THE CREDIT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT BASKETBALL KNOW THE
PERHAPS MOST FAMOUS THING THAT
DEAN SMITH DID TEACHING PLAYERS
AT NORTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL WAS
IF YOU MADE A BASKET, YOU
ALWAYS, YOU ALWAYS POINTED AT
THE MAN WHO PASSED YOU THE BALL.
STRUTTING AND SHOWBOATING WAS
NOT TO BE A PART OF THAT
PROGRAM.
IT'S THE PERSON WHO HELPED.
YOU DON'T NEED THE CREDIT:  GIVE
THE CREDIT AWAY.
AND FOR US AS CHRISTIANS, THAT
CAN BE DIFFICULT IN THE
WORKPLACE, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE
WE EVEN IN BEING CREDITED FOR
GOODNESS AND REFLECTING CHRIST'S
CHARACTER CAN SOMETIMES TAKE THE
CREDIT TO OURSELVES.
AFTER ALL, IF YOU WORK HARD, IF
YOU FAITHFULLY PUT YOUR DOLLAR
IN THE CUSS JAR WHEN YOU MESS
UP.
[LAUGHTER]
IF YOU DON'T CAT AROUND ON THE
BUSINESS TRIPS, YOU GET KNOWN
FOR THAT.
AND YOU CAN JUST BE THOUGHT AS A
GOOD PERSON.
BUT WHERE THERE ARE
OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK FOR THE
SAVIOR, THAT IS GIVING THE
CREDIT TO HIM.
HE ENABLED ME.
I TRUST HIM.
AND WHEN I MESS UP, I ASK HIS
FORGIVENESS.
HIS GRACE, NOT MY GOODNESS, IS
WHAT MAKES ME RIGHT BEFORE MY
GOD.
AND I LIVE THIS TESTIMONY SO
THAT YOU WOULD KNOW MY SAVIOR,
NOT THAT YOU WOULD THINK HIGHLY
OF ME.
IT IS MY SAVIOR THAT GETS THE
CREDIT FOR WHAT I DO AND WHO I
AM.
IF WE ARE TO REFLECT CHRIST, TO
WEAR HIM, THEN WE RECOGNIZE HIS
CHARACTER IS TO BE REFLECTED IN
OUR PRACTICES.
AND, IN ADDITION, HIS CARE IS TO
BE REFLECTED IN OUR PRODUCTS.
WE ARE IN ESSENCE SAYING OF THE
THINGS THAT WE PRODUCE, WHETHER
WE ARE ON THE LINE OR WHETHER
THE COMPANY OWNER, WE ARE
SAYING, "I STAMP THE NAME OF
JESUS ON THIS PRODUCT."
IT'S MY DUTY IN THE WORLD.
IT'S NOT THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
SEAL OF APPROVAL:  I AM PUTTING
THE NAME OF MY SAVIOR ON WHAT I
AM DOING.
NOW, THAT HAPPENS IN LOTS OF
WAYS. SOMETIMES INADVERTENT WAYS
IF WE ARE BELIEVERS.
WHEN MY SON, JORDAN, WAS
LEARNING THE STOCK BUSINESS AND
WAS LEARNING TRADING, HE GOT AS
A JUNIOR PERSON IN A PARTICULAR
PERSON ASSIGNED TO THE TASK OF
FOLLOWING UP ON THE LEADS BY
MAKING ENDLESS PHONE CALLS TO
POSSIBLE LEADS.
THAT WAS DREARY, DEADENING WORK.
YOU KNOW, ONE PHONE CALL AFTER
ANOTHER PHONE CALL AFTER ANOTHER
PHONE CALL.
AND HE TOLD US AT ONE POINT AS
IT WAS GETTING LATE, HE WAS VERY
TIRED AND ALMOST BEGAN TO JUST
WORK INSTINCTIVELY OUT OF, YOU
KNOW, REPEATING HIS LITTLE
SLOGANS OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
HE FINALLY GOT TO THE END OF THE
PHONE CALL AND HE SAID, "AND SO
THAT'S OUR DEAL.
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN."
[LAUGHTER]
AND THEN RECOGNIZED HE WASN'T
SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
DIDN'T QUITE KNOW WHAT TO DO
NEXT.
SO HE ACTUALLY HAD TO CALL BACK
AND APOLOGIZE.
BUT YOU RECOGNIZE IT WAS
SOMETHING ALMOST INSTINCTIVE IN
HIM BY THAT POINT, RIGHT?
I WAS ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF
HIM.
YOU KNOW, THAT THAT WAS
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN HIM.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE WAY YOU END
A CONVERSATION, EVEN TO THE
WRONG PERSON AT THAT POINT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT WE
STAMP ON OUR PRODUCTS, THE
THINGS THAT WE PRODUCE, WHO WE
ARE AND WHO OUR SAVIOR IS.
AND IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AT
TIMES, RIGHT, TO SAY I'M
ACTUALLY PROMOTING THE PURPOSES
OF MY GOD IN WHAT I'M PRODUCING.
KATHY AND I LIVED A LONG TIME IN
ST. LOUIS.
AND SOME OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRY
THERE ARE MAJOR CHEMICAL
COMPANIES.
AND WE RECOGNIZED JUST IN THE
CULTURAL CYCLES HOW PEOPLE'S
PERCEPTIONS OF THOSE CHEMICAL
COMPANIES CAN CHANGE.
AT SOME POINT, YOU MAY PRODUCE
SOME GREAT PESTICIDE AND IT
ENABLES FARMERS TO GROW IN THE
DEVELOPING WORLD SO THEY CAN
FEED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH
DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.
AND PEOPLE CHEER THE COMPANY.
AND THEN YOU GO A DECADE OR TWO
LATER IN THE CULTURAL CYCLE AND
PEOPLE SAY, "YOU'RE NOT FEEDING
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE:  YOU'RE
POISONING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE."
WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO
SOLVE THAT TODAY.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS AS BELIEVERS,
IT IS LEGITIMATE TO ASK US TO
THINK THROUGH, TO EXAMINE OUR
JOBS TO SAY, "IS WHAT WE ARE
DOING HONORING TO GOD?"
AND NOT JUST BE SWAYED BY THE
CULTURAL MOMENT, NOR EVEN TO BE
SWAYED BY THE OPINIONS OF PEOPLE
AROUND US BUT ACTUALLY BE THOSE
BELIEVERS WHO ARE SAYING, "IS MY
WORK RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD?
IS THE PRODUCT RIGHTEOUS?"
AND IN AN INTEGRATED ECONOMY,
THOSE ARE HUGELY COMPLEX
QUESTIONS.
I ONLY FOR THE MOMENT SAY WE'RE
OBLIGATED TO EXAMINE, TO THINK
THROUGH CAREFULLY, NOT JUST TO
BE OBLIVIOUS TO THE FACT THAT MY
PRODUCT HAS IMPLICATIONS.
AND SOMETIMES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF WHAT WE'RE PRODUCING IS NOT
OUR PROBLEM:  IT'S THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT WE'RE
PRODUCING.
CAN THIS REALLY SERVE GOD?
THIS, TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS IN
OREGON AT A PASTOR'S CONFERENCE
AND JUST KIND OF IN THE BREAK IN
THE DAY, THEY TOOK US TO A
CHEESE PRODUCING FACTORY, ONE OF
THE LARGEST CHEESE PRODUCERS IN
THE UNITED STATES.
AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING.
BUT I REMEMBER WATCHING PEOPLE
ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.
AND I REMEMBER WATCHING ONE
PARTICULAR MAN WHOSE JOB WAS TO
STRAIGHTEN THE LITTLE CAKES OF
CHEESE WHEN THEY GOT TWISTED ON
THE CONVEYER BELT.
SO HE STOOD THERE ALL DAY WITH
ONE HAND OUT DOING THIS.
ABOUT EVERY TENTH CAKE OF
CHEESE, HE WOULD STRAIGHTEN IT
UP.
AND I THINK TO MYSELF:  I'M GLAD
I'M NOT DOING THAT.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT'S NOT
GOOD WORK OR EVEN HOLY WORK.
WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES OUR WORK
SIGNIFICANT BEFORE GOD?
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO
IS WE CAN USE THE GEORGE BAILEY
TEST.
REMEMBER "IT'S A WONDERFUL
LIFE"?
WHAT WOULD THE WORLD BE LIKE IF
YOU WEREN'T DOING THAT?
I MEAN, IF THERE WERE NOT
QUALITY CONTROL ON THE LINE SO
THAT THE BUSINESS NO LONGER HAD
A REPUTATION, SO THAT IT COULD
NO LONGER SELL ITS PRODUCT, SO
THERE WERE NO LONGER JOBS
AVAILABLE, SO THAT FAMILIES
COULD NOT BE PROVIDED FOR?
WHAT IF THE QUALITY CONTROL IS
NOT JUST ABOUT THE ADJUSTMENT OF
THE CHEESE CAKE BUT WHAT
ACTUALLY HAPPENS IF SANITATION
IS NOT MAINTAINED AND WISTERIA
OUTBREAKS OCCUR?
SO THAT PEOPLE NOT ONLY GET
SICK:  THEY LOSE FATHER OR
MOTHER OR CHILD.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID NOT
DO YOUR JOB WELL?
AS WE BEGIN TO EXAMINE OUR JOBS
WITH THAT WORLD PERSPECTIVE, WE
BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE WHAT GOD IS
GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
IS TO ACTUALLY FIT OUR WORK INTO
HIS WORLD WITH A PERSPECTIVE
THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ME BUT
THINKING ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS
OF MY JOB.
IS IT RIGHTEOUS?
IS IT SIGNIFICANT AS IT
INFLUENCES THE WORLD?
AND THAT'S A QUESTION BEYOND
JUST WHETHER OR NOT I LIKE IT OR
SEE THAT IT'S HAPPENING,
SOMETHING THE PASTOR WOULD LIKE
TO DO.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT I
APPRECIATE READING IS DAVID
WRIGHT.
HE'S A COLLEGE PRESIDENT NOW BUT
USED TO BE A MISSIONARY IN HAITI
AND WROTE A WONDERFUL BOOK
CALLED "HOW GOD MAKES THE WORLD
A BETTER PLACE."
HOW GOD MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE.
AND HE WROTE ABOUT HIS
EXPERIENCE IN HAITI.
AND HE SAID THIS:  "I SAW THE
PURPOSE OF EVERY PROFESSION
WHILE I WAS IN HAITI AS A
MISSIONARY.
WITHOUT AFFAIR AND DEPENDABLE
COURT SYSTEM THAT ENSURED
HONESTY, FAIRNESS, AND
OWNERSHIP, HAITIANS STRUGGLE TO
FIND VALUE IN WORK FOR
THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, OR
FOR THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
WITHOUT A BANKING SYSTEM THAT
ENSURED MONEY WOULD BE PROTECTED
AND BORROWED ON FAIR AND
WORKABLE TERMS, BUSINESSMEN
COULD NOT OPERATE.
AND BECAUSE BUSINESSMEN COULD
NOT OPERATE, JOBS AND INCOME
WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
BECAUSE JOBS AND INCOME WERE NOT
AVAILABLE, FAMILIES COULD NOT
THRIVE; SOME COULD NOT SURVIVE."
AND IT JUST REMINDED ME OF THOSE
OF YOU WHO ARE HERE.
SOME OF YOU ARE IN THE BANKING
INDUSTRY.
SOME OF YOU ARE IN LEGAL.
AND SOME OF YOU ARE IN CRIMINAL
SERVICES OF VARIOUS SORTS.
BUT I THINK:  IF YOU WERE NOT
DOING YOUR JOB HOW OUR COMMUNITY
WOULD JUST CRUMBLE, HOW FAMILIES
COULD NOT BE PROVIDED FOR, HOW
WE COULD NOT THRIVE HERE AS A
CHURCH.
AND WHEN YOU'RE ABLE BEFORE GOD
TO SAY, "I BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND:
I'M NOT JUST A COG IN A WHEEL
SOMEWHERE.
I'M ACTUALLY DOING A HOLY
CALLING, BECAUSE GOD HAS CALLED
ME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS
WAY FOR THE WORLD THAT HE IS
BUILDING."
GOD IS MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER
PLACE, AND HE'S DOING IT THROUGH
PEOPLE WHO WORK FAITHFULLY IN
HIS NAME.
NOW, I DON'T JUST HAVE TO GUESS
AT THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT'S
BEING MADE CLEAR HERE, VERSE 22
OF COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3.
PAUL SAYS SOMETHING DIFFICULT
FOR US TO HEAR.
HE SAYS, "SLAVES, OBEY IN
EVERYTHING THOSE WHO ARE YOUR
EARTHLY MASTER, NOT BY WAY OF
EYE-SERVICE, AS PEOPLE-PLEASERS,
BUT WITH SINCERITY OF HEART,
FEARING THE LORD."
NOW, AGAIN, THE FEARING THE
LORD:  CAN YOU LET ME SAY
HONORING GOD.
IT'S A HOLY REVERENCE.
THAT EVEN SLAVES HERE ARE BEING
CALLED TO HONOR GOD, NOT JUST BY
DOING GOOD WORK WHEN THE BOSS IS
AROUND BUT ALL THE TIME,
BELIEVING THAT THEIR WORK IS GOD
HONORING.
AND IF WE SEE THAT, WE'RE BEING
RECOGNIZE--, WE RECOGNIZE WE'RE
BEING CALLED TO MINISTRIES OF
EXCELLENCE IN WHATEVER JOBS WE
ARE BEING CALLED TO DO.
I THINK OF AN OLD STORY ABOUT AN
ENTREPRENEUR WHO TRIED TO SET UP
A BUSINESS IN A DEVELOPING
COUNTRY.
AND THE PEOPLE THERE WERE NOT
WELL EDUCATED.
LOTS OF SUPERSTITIONS STILL
RULED IN THAT COUNTRY.
AND THINGS WENT WELL FOR A TIME,
AND THEN WORKERS KIND OF BEGAN
TO LEARN THE ROPES, AND THEY
BEGAN TO LEARN WAYS AROUND DOING
A GOOD JOB.
AND THE BOSS, FRUSTRATED AT SOME
POINT, DECIDED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THEIR SUPERSTITION.
AND SO HE TOOK OUT HIS GLASS EYE
AND PUT IT UP ON A SHELF WHEN HE
LEFT THE ROOM.
[LAUGHTER]
AS THOUGH HE WOULD KEEP WATCHING
THEM, WHICH WORKED FOR A WHILE.
[LAUGHTER]
UNTIL SOMEBODY DECIDED THEY
COULD PUT A HAT OVER THE GLASS
EYE.
[LAUGHTER]
WELL, THE REALITY IS YOU CAN'T
PUT A HAT OVER GL--, GOD'S EYE.
HE IS SAYING, "I'M BUILDING A
WORLD HERE, AND I'M USING MY
PEOPLE IN TESTIMONY OF MY
CHARACTER AND CARE TO DO IT."
SO WE DO IT WITH A WHOLE HEART.
WE DO IT WITH EXCELLENCE,
BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE
SERVING GOD'S PURPOSES.
OUR WORK IS HOLY BEFORE GOD, AND
IT'S HONORABLE BEFORE MEN,
BECAUSE IT IS CREATING THE WORLD
GOD INTENDS TO WORK FOR HIS OWN
PURPOSES.
NOW, WHEN I SAY THAT, I
RECOGNIZE, AND YOU SHOULD
RECOGNIZE TOO, IT SOUNDS NOBLE
AND GOOD AS LONG AS WE CAN DO
THE THINGS THAT WE WANT.
RIGHT?
WE'RE IN A SOCIETY WHERE WE TALK
ABOUT PEOPLE FINDING OUT WHAT
THEIR CALLING IS.
HOW, WHAT AM I WIRED TO DO?
WHAT ARE MY TALENTS?
WHAT ARE MY GIFTS?
AND I'LL DO WHAT I FIND GOOD TO
DO, AND THEN I'LL BE FULFILLED.
BUT PAUL IS ACTUALLY SAYING
SOMETHING DIFFERENT HERE.
WHAT IS YOU ARE CALLED TO WORK
IN A PLACE THAT IS DIFFICULT,
WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE, MAYBE
EVEN A JOB THAT YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO?
PAUL IS CALLING US TO RECOGNIZE
OUR VOCATION IS OUR PROFESSION,
OUR PROFESSING CHRIST, EVEN IF
OUR VOCATION IS NOT OUR
CHOOSING.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT'S THE CASE?
BECAUSE OF VERSE 22 AGAIN.
"SLAVES, OBEY IN EVERYTHING
THOSE WHO ARE YOUR EARTHLY
MASTERS."
YEAH, IN NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE,
IF I GET ENOUGH EDUCATION, IF I
WORK HARD ENOUGH, I MAY BE ABLE
TO FULFILL A JOB, FIND A JOB,
THAT IS IN ACCORD WITH MY GIFTS
AND TALENTS.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY IN MOST OF
THE WORLD OR IN MOST OF WORLD
HISTORY.
FOR MOST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD IN
MOST TIMES, IF YOUR DAD WAS A
FARMER, YOU'RE A FARMER.
IF YOUR DAD IS A MINER, YOU'RE A
MINER.
IF YOUR DAD WAS A SLAVE, YOU'RE
A SLAVE.
YOUR RANK, YOUR CAST, YOUR RACE,
YOUR ECONOMIC CONDITION, YOUR
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND, YOUR
NATIONALITY, YOUR DEMOGRAPHY:
ALL PREDETERMINED.
AND WE'RE FEELING SOME MORE OF
THAT IN THIS COMMUNITY, AREN'T
WE?
AS WE BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE AS
ECONOMIC PRESSURES COME, AS
PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO LEAVE JOBS
THAT THEY HAVE LOVED, AS LAYOFFS
OCCUR, WE BEGIN TO HAVE THIS
BASIC QUESTION:  CAN I DO WHAT
GOD WANTS IF I CAN'T DO WHAT I
WANT?
AND GOD, WITH ALL BLESSING TO
US, IS SAYING, "YES, EVEN IF YOU
CANNOT DO WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CAN
STILL DO WHAT GOD WANTS."
HOW DO I KNOW?
"SLAVES, IN EVERYTHING OBEY YOUR
EARTHLY MASTERS, NOT BY WAY OF
EYE-SERVICE, BUT FEARING THE
LORD."
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO HONOR
HIM.
NOW, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
VERSE FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.
FIRST, IT STARTS WITH THE WORD
SLAVES.
AND SO WE'RE SAYING:  WHY ISN'T
PAUL OUTLAWING SLAVERY RATHER
THAN TELLING SLAVES HOW TO WORK?
WELL, A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS HERE.
NUMBER ONE, IT'S NOT AMERICAN
CHATTEL SLAVERY AS WE THINK OF
IT.
I MEAN, A SLAVE IN PAUL'S TIME
WOULD SOMETIMES INCLUDE CRUEL
FORMS OF SERVITUDE.
BUT CITY MANAGERS AND CITY
TREASURERS WERE ALSO IN SERVICE
TO THE CITY.
INDENTURED SERVANTS, TENANT
RELATIONSHIPS, APPRENTICE
RELATIONSHIPS WERE ALL FORMS OF
SERVITUDE THAT ARE BEING
ADDRESSED HERE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T SOLVE IT ALL.
WHAT YOU AND I SHOULD RECOGNIZE
IF YOU'LL GO ON TO VERSE--,
EXCUSE ME, THE NEXT CHAPTER,
THINGS ARE BEING SAID HERE THAT
ARE CHOPPING AWAY AT THE ROOTS
OF SLAVERY AS AN INSTITUTION,
EVEN AS THE GOSPEL IS BEING
INTENDED TO SPREAD ACROSS THE
SOCIETY THAT IS STABLE AT LEAST
FOR THE MOMENT.
IN CHAPTER 4 IN VERSE 1, PAUL
SAYS, "MASTERS, TREAT YOUR
SLAVES JUSTLY AND FAIRLY,
KNOWING THAT YOU ALSO HAVE A
MASTER IN HEAVEN."
IF YOU WERE TO GO ACROSS THE
SCOPE OF PAUL'S WRITINGS, YOU
WOULD RECOGNIZE HE IS OUTLAWING
CRUELTY.
AND HE IS COMMANDING LOVE, SO
MUCH SO THAT HE WILL SAY TO
PHILEMON IN A LETTER TO COME,
"YOU ARE TO TREAT YOUR SLAVE AS
YOUR BROTHER."
THAT CHRISTIANITY IS UNDERMINING
ALL THE PRESUMPTIONS THAT
SUPPORTED SLAVERY FOR A WHILE,
BUT PAUL IS STILL SAYING TO
THOSE WHO SERVE ANOTHER,
"REMEMBER YOU HAVE A HIGHER
AUTHORITY."
IT'S NOT THE MASTER:  IT IS GOD
HIMSELF WHO IS YOUR AUTHORITY.
YOU MAY BE IN AN UNDESIRABLE JOB
AND STILL ABLE TO DO GOD'S WORK
BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTUALLY SERVING
THE LORD.
YOU'RE NOT SERVING MEN, VERSE
23:  YOU ARE SERVING THE LORD.
VERSE 23, "WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK
HEARTILY, AS FOR THE LORD AND
NOT FOR MEN."
SOME TIME AGO, A FRIEND THAT
SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM I KNOW
HA--, HAVE, HOWARD HENDRICKS,
WHO WAS A LONGTIME PROFESSOR AT
DALLAS SEMINARY, WAS ON AN
AMERICAN AIRLINES PLANE WHERE
THE STEWARDESS WAS HANDLING A
DRUNK BUSINESSMAN, A SCREAMING
SET OF BABIES, UNRULY AND UNKIND
PASSENGERS, AND TREATING THEM
WITH POLITENESS AND COURTESY.
BUT EVEN AS THAT FLIGHT
ATTENDANT WAS TREATING THEM WITH
COURTESY AND KINDNESS THROUGHOUT
THE LONG TRIP, HOWARD HENDRICKS
WAS NOTICING AND AT THE END OF
THE TRIP SAID TO HER AS HE WAS
LEAVING THE PLANE, "CAN I WRITE
A NOTE TO YOUR SUPERVISOR AT
AMERICAN AIRLINES?"
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, SURE, YOU
CAN DO THAT.
BUT," SHE SAID, "I DON'T
ACTUALLY WORK FOR A BOSS AT
AMERICAN AIRLINES."
SHE SAID, "MY BOSS IS JESUS
CHRIST.
NOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY ASKING YOU
TO GO IN TO WORK TOMORROW AND
SAY TO YOUR SUPERVISOR.
[LAUGHTER]
"YOU AIN'T THE BOSS OF ME."
[LAUGHTER]
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW IT IN
YOUR HEART.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT YOUR TRUE MASTER, THAT THE
ONE THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY
SERVING, IS THE LORD HIMSELF.
AND FOR THAT REASON, WHEN THE
DIFFICULTIES COME, YOU RECOGNIZE
IF SOMEBODY'S ASKING YOU TO DO
SOMETHING THAT'S UNETHICAL OR
UNGODLY OR UNFAIR, EVEN IF YOUR
WORLDLY BOSS HAS THAT AUTHORITY,
THAT'S NOT YOUR ULTIMATE BOSS.
AND YOU DON'T DO WHAT'S UNGODLY
OR UNFAIR OR UNETHICAL, BECAUSE
IT IS THE LORD CHRIST THAT YOU
SERVE.
YOU'RE NOT WORKING AS UNTO MEN.
YOU'RE WORKING AS UNTO THE LORD.
AND THAT MEANS, IF YOU'RE
WORKING TO THE LORD NOT AS UNTO
MEN, THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT
ULTIMATELY WORKING AS UNTO YOU
EITHER.
THAT THERE'S A HIGHER PRIORITY
THAN YOU IN THE WORKPLACE.
AND THAT BECOMES IMPORTANT TO
KNOW IN ALL KINDS OF PRESSURE
PACKED SITUATIONS.
WHEN WE ARE THINKING, "AM I
WILLING TO DO THIS FOR MY PROFIT
OR MY PROMOTION, MY POSITION OR
EVEN MY FAMILY'S IMMEDIATE
WELFARE, AM I WILLING TO
TRANSGRESS WHAT I KNOW GOD
REQUIRES BECAUSE IT'S BETTER FOR
ME OR BETTER FOR MINE?"
IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN WE NEED
TO HEAR TOO:  YOU ARE NOT
SERVING YOU EITHER.
ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE SERVING THE
LORD.
KEY THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM
KNOWING THAT:  YOU HAVE
IMPORTANT CALLING BEYOND THE
WORK ITSELF IF YOU ARE SERVING
THE LORD.
YOU ARE CALLED TO HONOR HIM.
YOU ARE CALLED TO PROVIDE FOR
YOUR FAMILY.
IN THIS CULTURE RIGHT NOW, IN
THIS CITY RIGHT NOW WHERE JOBS
ARE HARD AND DECREASING,
SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO
DO THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO;
IT'S NOT THEIR TALENT; IT'S NOT
THEIR GIFTING.
BUT RINGING IN OUR EARS SHOULD
BE THE EARS OF PAUL IN 1 TIMOTHY
5 WHERE HE SAYS, "HE WHO WILL
NOT PROVIDE FOR HIS OWN FAMILY
IS WORSE THAN AN UNBELIEVER."
AND SOMETIMES WE'LL SAY, "BUT, I
WANT TO DO WHAT I LIKE.
I WANT TO DO WHAT PROMOTES ME."
WELL, WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR
FAMILY?
DO YOU HAVE TO DO THE THINGS
THAT ARE UNDESIRABLE,
UNPLEASANT, BECAUSE THAT IS YOUR
CALLING AND THE RESPONSIBILITY
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU?
AND EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY DESIRE
SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING ELSE
MAY BE PLEASANT FOR YOU, IS THIS
RESPONSIBLE BEFORE GOD IN
PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILY?
I TOLD YOU BEFORE:  I HOPE I
HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU
OTHER TIMES OF A DECISION THAT
MY FATHER MADE WHEN I WAS IN
HIGH SCHOOL AND MY PARENTS WERE
IN DEEP TENSION WITH EACH OTHER
AT THE TIME.
MY FATHER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GO TO OKLAHOMA AND TAKE A
REGIONAL DIRECTORSHIP OF THE
COMPANY THAT HE WORKED FOR BUT
TURNED IT DOWN.
IN EXPLAINING TO ME AND TO MY
BROTHERS IN PRIVATE SIMPLY SAID,
"BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS ARE
BETWEEN YOUR MOM AND I RIGHT
NOW, THIS FAMILY NEEDS TO SETTLE
AND IT NEEDS TO STAY HERE.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT
PROMOTION."
WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT FOR HIM, FOR
CAREER, FOR INCOME, BEEN GREAT
FOR HIM.
BUT HE RECOGNIZED HE HAD A
HIGHER CALLING:  BEFORE GOD HE
WAS CALLED TO PROVIDE FOR HIS
FAMILY IN THE WAY THAT HE FELT
WAS BEST AND MOST APPROPRIATE
FOR THEIR WELFARE AND LONGTERM
GOOD.
IT'S WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO
DO:  TO RECOGNIZE WE HAVE A
CALLING, WHICH MAY EVEN BE
HONORABLE FOR US AND WE NEED TO
KNOW IT'S HONORABLE, NOT TO DO
THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE
TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE A CALLING
THE SUPERCEDES OUR CHOOSING IF
WE ARE HONORING GOD FIRST.
WHAT THIS ULTIMATELY MEANS IS
THAT WE ARE TO BE HONORING GOD.
WE ARE TO BE PURSUING OUR
PROFESSION FROM THE HEART.
AFTER ALL, WHY WOULD WE DO THE
THINGS THAT PUT US AT RISK, THAT
MAKE US SACRIFICE FOR THE HONOR
OF CHRIST?
THE ANSWER IS IN VERSE 23.
WHY WOULD WE DO THE THINGS THAT
PUT US AT RISK AND CAUSE US TO
SACRIFICE?
"WHATEVER YOU DO," VERSE 23,
"WORK HEARTILY, AS FOR THE
LORD."
SOME OF YOU MAY BE INTERESTED TO
KNOW THAT THAT WORD HEART THERE
IS NOT THE GREEK WORD "KARDIA,"
LIKE CARDIAC.
IT'S THE GREEK WORD "PSUCHES,"
AS IN PSYCHE OR PSYCHOLOGY,
SOMETHING EVEN DEEPER IN THE
VERY FIBER OF YOUR BEING.
YOU'RE TO BE RESPONDING OUT OF
THE DEPTH OF YOUR SOUL.
THAT WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE YOU ARE
WORKING, IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR
SOUL SINGING HALLELUJAH, AS WE
SANG EARLIER TODAY.
THAT I AM SEEKING TO PRAISE GOD
OUT OF MY SOUL'S DEPTH.
AND SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT JUST
BASED UPON HOW MANY TOYS I CAN
GET OR HOW EASY MY LIFE.
SOMETIMES I STAND UP TO HARD
THINGS.
SOMETIMES I MAKE HARD DECISIONS.
WHY?
BECAUSE I AM SERVING THE SAVIOR
FROM MY VERY SOUL'S DEPTH.
THIS IS MY HEART OF HEARTS, TO
DO WHAT HE REQUIRES, BECAUSE I
LOVE HIM.
WHY DO I LOVE HIM?
REMEMBER VERSE 17.
"WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DO,
DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE
LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD
THE FATHER THROUGH HIM."
HE IS THE LORD JESUS.
HE IS THE ONE WHO CAME FOR US.
VERSE 24, "KNOWING THAT FROM THE
LORD YOU WILL RECEIVE THE
INHERITANCE AS YOUR REWARD.
YOU ARE SERVING THE LORD
CHRIST."
THE FIRST PART OF THAT VERSE:
WHY SHOULD YOU DO THE HARD
STUFF?
WELL, BECAUSE YOU WILL RECEIVE
AN INHERITANCE.
NOW, THAT'S HAVING AN ETERNAL
PERSPECTIVE.
THAT I RECOGNIZE THIS LIFE IS
SHORT.
THERE MAY BE HARD THINGS HERE,
BUT I'M ACTUALLY LIVING FOR AN
ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY THAT
GOES ON ETERNALLY.
AND HOW DO I SAY THAT TO YOU?
THAT SOUNDS GOOD HERE:  IT WILL
BE HARDER TO MAKE SENSE WHEN
YOU'VE GOT A HARD BUSINESS
DECISION TO MAKE.
AND WHAT I THINK MAKES SENSE
THEN IS TO REMEMBER YOU ARE
GIVING THANKS TO THE LORD
CHRIST.
HE WAS THE KING OF ALL CREATION,
THE LORD OF ALL THINGS THAT
BROUGHT YOUR LIFE, YOUR FAMILY,
THIS WORLD INTO EXISTENCE.
AND HE WAS ALSO THE CHRIST, THE
ANOINTED ONE WHO GAVE HIMSELF TO
DIE ON A CROSS FOR YOUR SIN AND
MY SIN WHEN HE HAD TO DO NONE OF
THAT.
AND IT IS NOT GAIN BUT GRATITUDE
NOW THAT DRIVES US, NOT JUST
EVENTUALLY DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE
I'LL GET A REWARD, BUT RIGHT NOW
A HEART THAT IS SAYING, "IF HE
LOVED ME SO, THEN I WANT TO LIVE
FOR HIM."
IT IS GOSPEL DRIVENNESS.
I RECOGNIZE THE INSTINCT OF MY
HEART IS TO SERVE THE SAVIOR WHO
LOVED ME ENOUGH TO GIVE HIMSELF
FOR ME, AND I WANT OTHER PEOPLE
TO KNOW THAT.
AND SOMETIMES JUST AS HIS
SACRIFICE HAS TOUCHED MY HEART,
MY SACRIFICE WILL TOUCH OTHER
HEARTS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.
AFTER ALL, I BEAR ON ME THE NAME
OF JESUS.
AND WHEN OTHERS SEE ME SACRIFICE
FOR THE SAKE OF MY SAVIOR, THEY
UNDERSTAND HIM MORE.
AND THAT'S OUR CALLING:  TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE PROFESSION OF OUR
FAITH IS APPARENT IN OUR
CHARACTER, IN OUR PRODUCT, BUT
ULTIMATELY IN OUR SACRIFICE FOR
HIM.
THAT PEOPLE SEE:  YOU KNOW
JESUS.
AND BECAUSE I SEE YOU, I BEGIN
TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HIM TOO.
IT'S OUR HEART'S RESPONSE TO HIS
LOVE FOR US THAT LEADS US DOWN
THE PATH OF TRUE HONORING HIM IN
WORKPLACE, IN HOME, IN EASY
PLACES, IN HARD PLACES, FOR EASY
PEOPLE, FOR HARD PEOPLE, FOR
CHRIST'S SAKE.
SOMEBODY WHO IS A FRIEND OF
GRACE CHURCH WHO WATCHES US BY
PODCAST IN AUSTRALIA IS CASEY
VALLANCE.
I'VE TOLD YOU ABOUT HIM BEFORE.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, CASEY WON
THE WORLD ARCHITECTURE AWARD FOR
DESIGNING A HOME TO FIT INTO A
REJECTED PART OF A MAJOR
AUSTRALIAN CITY.
AND HIS DESIGN BECAME A MODEL
FOR USING REJECTED SPACES AND
REJECTED MATERIALS IN MAJOR
CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
CASEY, BECAUSE OF HAVING WON
THAT AWARD, IS BEING ASKED NOW
TO LECTURE AT VARIOUS PLACES
ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATES HIM, WHAT
SHOULD MOTIVATE SOMEBODY IN THE
FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE.
AND HE WROTE ME RECENTLY ABOUT
WHAT HE'S DOING.
HE WAS BEING ASKED TO GIVE A
LECTURE AT A UNIVERSITY ON WHAT
IT MEANT TO HAVE ARCHITECTURE
REFLECT HIS VALUES.
WELL, HIS VALUES ARE THE VALUES
OF LIVING FOR THE LORD.
AND SO HE WROTE THIS:  "WE
PRESENTED OUR HOUSE DESIGN AND
DISCUSSED OUR ARCHITECTURAL
PURPOSE, EXPLORED OVER 12 YEARS
OF DESIGNING AND BUILDING THIS
HOME.
WE SAID WE WANT TO BUILD THIS
HOUSE AND HOUSES LIKE IT TO SHOW
THE BLESSINGS OF CHRIST ON
RESTORING THE REJECTED AND TO
SHOW HIS LOVE AS WE SERVE OTHERS
IN OUR LIFE AND IN OUR WORK."
THAT WAS THE LECTURE HE GAVE,
EXPLAINING HOW HIS JOB, HIS
DESIGN, HIS VALUES WERE MEANT TO
EXPRESS THE NAME OF HIS SAVIOR.
AFTERWARDS HE WROTE AGAIN OF A
YOUNG WOMAN WHO HAD HEARD THE
LECTURE.
AND SHE SAID THIS:  "I HAVE
NEVER HEARD ANYONE SAY HOW THE
GOSPEL AFFECTS DAILY WORK AND
GIVES MEANING TO LIFE."
A MAN WHO HAD BEEN AN ARCHITECT
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS WROTE AND
SAID, "THAT WAS A POWERFUL
MOMENT IN YOUR LECTURE, BECAUSE
I HAVE PRAYED FOR A DECADE FOR
GOD TO SHOW ME HOW TO USE MY
PROFESSION TO BRING LIGHT TO A
BROKEN WORLD."
AND WHAT CASEY WAS BASICALLY
SAYING WAS, "DO YOUR JOB WITH
EXCELLENCE, WITH INTEGRITY, WITH
LOVE AND COMPASSION."
SHOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE BY YOUR
VALUES, AS GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO
THE PLACE, WHERE IT'S PLEASANT
OR DIFFICULT.
AND, REMEMBER, CASEY IS THE ONE
WHO TURNED PAST THE BILLION
DOLLAR CONTRACT TO CREATE THE
CITY DESIGN THAT WOULD TAKE
PEOPLE INTO THE CASINOS OF A
MAJOR AUSTRALIAN CITY.
REJECTED BECAUSE IT'S NOT
ACCORDING TO MY VALUES,
SACRIFICE MUCH FOR THE SAKE OF
SHOWING THE WORLD CHRIST.
AND NOW AS HE REJOICES TO SEE
PEOPLE HEARING AND RESPONDING TO
HIM, HE SAYS, "AS I HAVE HONORED
CHRIST, HE HAS HONORED HIS OWN
NAME IN US."
AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY THAT YOU
AND I HAVE.
THE ONE WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US,
AS WE CONSIDER EVERY SQUARE INCH
OF OUR LIVES HOLY GROUND, WHEN
WE HONOR HIM, HE HONORS OUR
WORK.
IT IS HOLY AND FOR HIM AND MAKES
A DIFFERENCE FOR ETERNITY.
GOD IS CALLING YOU TO A
PROFESSION.
HIS NAME'S ON YOU.
LIVE FOR HIM, AND HE WILL HONOR
YOUR WORK.
IT IS HOLY BEFORE HIM.
>>> FATHER, THANK YOU FOR
REMINDING US THAT YOU IN EVERY
PLACE GIVE US THE PRIVILEGE OF
HONORING YOU.
I THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND THE
WOMEN IN THIS PLACE.
WE REJOICE THIS DAY FOR WHAT
THEY BY THEIR GENEROSITY HAVE
PROVIDED OF THIS BUILDING.
BUT THIS IS JUST THE START OF
LIFE UPON LIFE REFLECTING AND
REVERBERATING WITH THE NAME OF
JESUS.
HELP US, I PRAY, IN WHATEVER
PLACE YOU CALL US.
I THINK NOW, FATHER, THERE
CANNOT BUT BE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW
LISTENING TO ME RIGHT HERE WHO
ARE THINKING OF THE DIFFICULT
BOSS, THE HARD COWORKER, THE
PRODUCT THAT THEY FEEL
COMPROMISES THEM, THE FAMILY
DEPENDING ON THEM AND THEY DON'T
KNOW YET WHAT TO DO.
HELP THEM JUST TO TAKE THE
ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE MOMENT TO
SAY, "BUT AS I LIVE FOR CHRIST,
HE HONORS WHAT I DO.
THERE IS PURPOSE IN THIS BY HOW
I REFLECT HIS CHARACTER AND
CARE.
I REPRESENT THE NAME OF MY
SAVIOR."
GOD, GIVE US JOY IN THAT,
STRENGTH FOR IT WE PRAY, THAT
THE WORLD MIGHT NAME OUR SAVIOR
THROUGH THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.

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