Mighty Energy

Good Evening to All!

Bible Seeds Devotional

Today's Seed: "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29

Sometimes it seems as if the work we are trying to do for the Lord is really hard labor. This seed says it so succinctly: "struggling." And that is often where we stop. We agree we are laboring for the Lord, and it is a struggle. But wait, that is not where the seed stops. It goes on to say, "with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." If what we are doing is really the Lord's work, then it isn't dependent on our strength.

Jesus taught us that he did nothing on his own. In John 14, he reminds us that all of his words and works are from the Father (God) working in and through him. He also said that he will send the Holy Spirit to live in us so that all we say and do will also be God's work through us,. If the work we do "for the Lord" is a constant struggle, perhaps it is time to take a second look and see if our work is more our idea than his.


Dig Deeper:

The Greek word for "energy" is energeia. It means the power of God working to complete the task that has been given to us.


Weed & Water:

How many times have you said "yes" to a project that needed to be done, not because you felt called to do it, but because you felt guilty if you said "no"? God does not "need" us to accomplish his purposes here on earth. However, God does give us the privilege of joining him in what he is dong. The difference is that we understand the work is the Lord's and our part is to join him. When we join in working with the Lord, we won't be "struggling." We will do it with a different attitude,k not depending on our own strengths or talents. We will realize that if God has called us to work alongside him, he will also provide the energy we need to get the job done.



Sprout & Scatter: Understanding that not every project put before us is our responsibility will give us an opportunity to seek out others who may be better suited for that job. The Living Bible paraphrases Colossians 1:29 this way: This is my work, and I can only do it because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." When God asks us to do a specific job, we will experience that energy. When we try to do a job that someone else is better suited to do, we shortchange others and ourselves. In learning to share the work we not only lessen the burden on ourselves, but we also give others the chance to discover Christ's might energy" at work within them.

Think about it: What jobs might you be doing in your own strength rather than depending on Christ's mighty energy?

What jobs are you doing that could be done by someone else?


Prayer Pot: Dear God, help me to know when to ... ( insert your request).

Take Away Idea: Doing God's work won't wear you out.

Good Night to All and May God Bless!

PJ