“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” Ephesians 4:28
This is a nice verse, as are all the verses in the bible, right? I mean it is in the bible so of course it is good, but it doesn’t directly apply to me, does it? I don’t steal and I had a good job before turning to missionary work and I certainly give to those that are in need. So I am good, don’t you think?
Five days ago if I read this verse that is exactly what I would have thought as I glanced it over. But the last week of the hardest manual labor I have ever done have changed all that [as the Holy Spirit loves to do}. God is really teaching my team and I what it means to work. We have used machetes to clear a field, cleared a road with our bare hands and shovels and axes, sawed probably 100 pieces of wood with a hand saw, poured concrete we stirred by hand on the ground…. Yea I could go on with more. Sun up to sun down we are working our tails off. And guess what? All seven of us are thanking God for it. When we meet the end of our own physical endurance the presence of God takes over to finish our task. We are taking care of one another and vowing not to complain and growing closer as a team. We are becoming more thankful for the things we do have. And we are learning there truly is nothing that is impossible when God is in control.
When some of these tasks have been laid out my flesh says this is not even possible, we will never finish, they are working us too hard here- but Jesus tells me I have sent you here to serve Me so trust Me to make a way and give you the strength.So it seems I have been stealing after all. I have been robbing myself of what I am physically able to do. I have been stealing opportunities to allow God to be glorified through myself. Robbing myself of what all God wants to do in me. Robbing those around me of the gifts God has bestowed to me. I do not want to be a thief again. And now I can give to those in need, like this ministry we are blessed to serve here in Costa Rica. This manual labor is so they are able to build a sanctuary on the hill top where the glory of God will shine down for years to come. We have the unique opportunity to lay the foundation for a great work of the Lord. I have never been happier to be sweaty, sun burnt, and sporting some blisters and bug bites! I am thankful to God for this stretching and growing season to begin the world race adventure!
