As an individual I believe I am obligated to give my very best effort no matter what I’m doing. Whether it’s sitting down for a meal (I Corinthians 10:31), attending to my duties at work (Colossians 3:23) or working out my salvation (Philippians 2:12). I also understand that I’m only able to do this by God’s grace (Philippians 2:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 14:23).
Here’s the thing, though, that God really dropped on me recently… His grace NEVER changes or weakens… it’s only my effort that does. Gulp.
There is no one on this planet that finds his peace and joy in the sovereignty of God (in all things) than me. It is the only reason I can make it through a day. Unfortunately, clinging to that truth with the wrong attitude is dangerous. I find it no different that when the devil approached Eve and said, “did God really say…?” It is so easy to just “let go and let God” and then do NOTHING and hope for the best because, “All things work together for good”. It becomes so easy to do just as Eve did when she looked at the temptation and then wanted it. We can easily look at the knowledge of God’s sovereignty and reason that we can’t REALLY do anything to affect the outcome… so why bother.
I must play my best everyday. It matters. Why does it matter if God is in complete control? I tell you what I believe God impressed upon me just the other day. It matters because I am alive at the pleasure of God FOR the pleasure of God. His word teaches and my spirit testifies with His that He is pleased when I trust Him enough to play my best.
I love the truth of this quote from Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”
Why would Jesus weep over a city and people who are not following God with all they’ve been given if it didn’t matter? He knew the what would happen in the end. He purposed and secured their salvation before the foundation of the world. Yet, he wept over them AND then struggled through the effort it took his human body to endure the cross. How can we look at our saviors example and not play our best? Everyday. In every situation.
To crutch on the knowledge of God’s grace and sovereignty to the point of inaction is to blaspheme the very one who we say we follow. I’m afraid if this attitude prevails in us then we’ll find ourselves standing before God, at the end of our days, realizing that we really never loved Jesus… we loved INFORMATION about Jesus.
I believe God commands each of us to play our best by giving our best individual effort. If you’re a leader (especially in ministry), I believe He also commands us to play our best in regards to our team. I’ll hit that in my next post.
