We are going to read some beautiful verses that Paul unpacks for us. There is one gospel and both he and Peter have been given this gospel for the Jews (Peter) and for the Gentiles (Paul). Paul recognises that it is God who is working in both Peter and himself.
“As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favouritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.” (Galatians 2 v 6-8)
At work is actually one word where we get the word energy from. But this is more than just the energy to get through the day but it is the divine energy, the power of God at work in and through us. Paul would always testify to what God had done when He worked miracles through him.
Today, the same God, the same work, the same gospel is at work in and through your life.
You have not been put here to simply struggle, to be overwhelmed by life’s predicaments.
God has a purpose for your life and it is to do good works.
The ultimate is not just faith in Jesus, following Him and going to heaven. It is also to do good to those here on earth.
Imagine for a moment if every disciple of Jesus woke today with one thought only and that is to do good. To alleviate someone’s hurt, to listen to someone, to kneel before a sword-wielding child with the soothing words to heal that troubled soul.
The immature enter ‘their’ church and are more interested in ‘serve us’ than ‘service’. After a while they begin to say ‘it’s not working for me here.’ NO. The church was never meant to work for you.
The mature follower of Jesus stops asking ‘who’s going to meet my needs?’ and starts asking, ‘whose needs can I meet?’
You don’t need a title or a trophy to do a good work. You don’t need training to be nice to someone, to help them smile and to make life a little easier. You just have to think less of yourself.
Wherever you are you can do good to others and that is the calling on your life. Many years ago I buried a man who thought he would be healed because ‘God has something for me to do, I don’t know what it is yet Pastor but I know He will tell me.’ I buried him with regret that this man had not recognised that God was already at work in his life.
You don’t get this life again and it will be over sooner than we think so we must use it for His glory. Come Spirit of God and work in me today! That is our prayer.
Missions Paul 