Life Of Integrity预览

"Isaiah's One True God"

Have you ever felt completely drowned in to-do lists? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by a busy work schedule? Have you ever felt bound by the stress of reaching deadlines?

In Isaiah 44, Isaiah attends the topic of idolatry. What is an idol? An idol is anything that we serve above or before God. Therefore, your work deadlines, job obligations, school work – even your social life or “busy-ness” – can become an idol if it becomes your first priority and takes away from the time and prayer you are called to spend with God daily. God speaks through the prophet Isaiah, reminding us that He made us. He made us to serve Him, and Him only. God spoke through Isaiah to remind us He will never forget us. Thus, we should never lose sight of Him either – especially amidst serving the demands of a busy schedule. The God we know and love is mighty. He will prove Himself greater than any and all idols. He reminds us that if we serve Him first, as our one true God, we will surely receive freedom from the bonds and stress of trying to serve anything else.

Our jobs and schedules are not wrong (they are blessings!), but we need to remember that serving the Lord in all things should be the first desire of our hearts. Therefore, let us cast off our desire to please our bosses. Let us set aside our desire to fit more things in our schedule, or to earn more money. None of that will produce sustainment in the way our Rock, our Lord, sustains us.

If we pursue excellence in our jobs, let’s do it to bring glory to God – not to our bosses, managers, teachers, or to ourselves. When the people around us see our diligence in work ethic, we will represent the lifestyle of a servant for Christ, rather than a slave to work.

This week, review your schedule, appointments, and to-do lists. Then, place God above every single thing written or logged in your calendar. Ask yourself how you can refocus your daily tasks to be a service work for His glory, rather than your own plans or tasks.