I would like to share a personal experience as an introduction to his particular topic. Recently God allowed me to write a book on his behalf called, What is the Woman Saying – Lessons Learnt from Biblical Women. I truly enjoyed as aspects of writing and bringing this book to fruition. While writing I had my guitar behind me and I would have been constantly looking at it and wishing the writing process was completed so I can finally start to learn to play. The writing came to and end so it was off to my next goal of learning to play this musical instrument.

So here I was now, strumming away daily, reading guitar books and looking at youtube videos as my self teaching process was kicking into high gear. Part of my aim was to bless our Lord with a musical instrument and offer it up as worship and something pleasing in his sight. This is when he spoke to me and said, “Dane, you cannot chose for yourself the things you want to offer up to me as worship/works”.

What God was reminding me that I am His to be used as He sees fit. While wanting to play an instrument for His glory is a great thing, that does not mean he want’s me specifically to do this. The mastery of this stringed instrument could have been assigned from the foundation of the world to someone else . While my job could have been to continue writing and focusing on producing more books. This is why it is of paramount importance and with acknowledge God in ALL our ways ( Proverbs 3:6)

It is with this backdrop that I would like to talk about the works we have been assigned to do as opposed to the works we would like to do. One of the reasons I feel believers are burnt out, tired, despondent and lacking a sense of direction is because they are taking on too much tasks which are not aligned with the works God has assigned by their name (Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:4)

Yes my Friend we have works which are unique for us to execute! Jesus and all other men of God were given their specific assignment.

  1. Jesus said in John 17:4 I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.
  2. As with us all, the Apostle Paul wanted to leave and be with Christ but his works on earth were not yet finished because he still needed to help the faithful. – Philippians 1:23-24 (NIV) 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
  3. David rested when his works where compete: Acts 13:36 (NIV-WS) 36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.

As Jesus so nicely put it, our works are given to glorify our Heavenly Father on Earth. It is all part of being Holy (set aside for scared use). God’s word reminders us in many locations to be holy as he is holy e.g. Leviticus 20:26 (NIV) 26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

God wants us to continue moving from righteousness to righteousness and holiness to holiness. One of the things God is saying here is we are to continually keep setting aside ourselves for his use (God appointed works) over and over again. As I underscored above, this is not our self appointed works but the works God has handpicked us to do before the world began.

I encourage us all to pause for a moment today and come before God prayerfully and ask, “God please show me my works!”. This might entail a one off prayer or a prolonged period of praying and fasting but the answer will come. It might also involve giving up some of the things that you love doing currently. But I guarantee, in doing so you will not only be more effective in bringing glory to God but you will find your christian journey more rewarding and less strenuous.

By brothers and sisters, I leave you with these two scriptures to further encourage you along this journey of laboring for the Lord.

Matthew 25:21 (KJV) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Your Brother and servant in the Lord.

Dane A. Miller.