“For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Heb. 4:10, NKJV).
How is your job going for you lately? I was just talking to a sister the other day about the lamentable fact that so many individuals hold a strong aversion for their occupations. Far too often, work is experienced as a depressing burden.
Sadly, this is simply a fulfillment of the heavy consequences of sin God announced when our race exited Eden: “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life” (Gen. 3:17, NIV). Painful toil. When our employment feels like distressing drudgery, we are living under Adam’s curse.
The beautiful news is, Jesus became a curse to set us free from the wages of humanity’s sin: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’ (Gal. 3:13, NIV). Guess what… this provision includes the curse of painful toil! Because of His sacrifice, we don’t have to live that way anymore. He shed His precious blood to break the power of every curse.
When we come to Jesus, we find rest for our souls. When we unite ourselves to Him, His strength becomes our own. When we develop a lifestyle of intimacy with Him, we can cease from painful toil. The delight of our love relationship with Him will invade every inch of our inner space and our daily routines.
When we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, even heavy lifting will become restful. When we are full of His Holy Spirit, even cleaning toilets will become a profoundly joyful activity. His manifest presence transforms the most mundane responsibilites into beautiful opportunities to partner with Him.
Jesus wants to turn our daily duties into a delight!
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Have you experienced the delight of partnering with Jesus in mundane responsibilities?
Feeding On Jesus 
Such reassuring heartfelt words. Thank you.
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You are truly welcome! Thank you, too, for your kind comment 🙂
By the way, I was wondering what you like to go by on here? When I respond to your comments I’d love to use the right address for you, is it Sandy?
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I find myself often at one end or the other with my paid employment. Half the time I will see the mundane daily tasks as drudgery to plod my way through. The other half of the time God reminds me that I am where has has placed me, and working well where I am is good – and I find joy in the productivity of those days!
God also reminds me that work is not simply the tasks I do, but time spent with colleagues in conversation about life outside of work too.
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We are all in a growth process in these matters, aren’t we my brother? Praise the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s faithful work in our hearts to walk in His grace more and more!
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Praise the Lord indeed! Each new day is an opportunity to accept Jesus invitation to draw bear, and share love and hope with those we meet.
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Amen and amen!
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Proverbs 22:29 has some encouragement for developing skill with one’s work: “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.” But as good as that might be, I rejoice when I allow my work to be prompted and enabled by The King: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) Hamish has it right! The stuff we produce is only temporal, but those workmates of ours are eternal!
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Wonderful and wise insights, Jon! And how satisfying it is to partner with Him in those works that will endure forever!
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God allows me to love on disadvantaged children every day. Does it get any better than that? I think not.
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I wholeheartedly concur with much, much joy! I feel the Father’s joy in your partnering with Him in such a precious work!
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