Thursday, December 1, 2011

Who Does What - Doesn't Matter

Deuteronomy 3

Moses is once again reminded by God that he will not get to cross the river Jordan to enter the promised land.  He can go up Mount Pisgah and look at it.  But, He will not enter it.  He is to encourage Joshua as it will be Joshua who crosses over and takes possession of the land that Moses sees.

Moses has done a lot - he has put up with a lot leading the Israelites through the wilderness.  But, his job is over.  It is now time for Joshua to take over where Moses has ended.  It doesn't really matter who God uses to do His will, His will - will be done.  His will, in this case, is that the children of Israel shall settle in the land that He has promised them. 

St. Paul knew this, as well.  It did not matter who did what - everyone does what God appoints them to do.  And... ultimately, all whom God has called will enter the Kingdom of God as a member of the Body of Christ.  Paul writes in the 1st letter to the Corinthians (3:5-9):
     What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Like Moses, in this life, we may never get to enjoy the fruits of our labor, that is the labor for the Kingdom.  We may never get to see that neighbor whom we witnessed to and prayed for accept Jesus as their Saviour.  And, it does not matter if it doesn't become a reality in our life-times.  We trust that when we are gone another will come and continue the work that we began.  We work for a common purpose and we can be assured that no matter what we do, it is God who makes things grow.  It is God who gives growth to the Body of Christ - to the Church - to His Kingdom.  That is the ultimate goal isn't it - for all God's people to enter into the promised land?  

It is not we, but God who gets the glory as He leads us through the wilderness to the promised land.  May God guide the work of your hands, the thoughts of your heart and mind, every word that you speak, and every step that you take that all that you say and think and do this day will be acceptable in His sight and glorify Him, our Rock and our Redeemer.

No comments: