sokin's devotional 15

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those he loves."

psalm 127:1-2

---------------------------

All things must be dedicated onto the Lord - if not, all works towards it is in vain.

I've been consistently (so far) going up to Stonybrook every tuesday and wednesdays now for morning prayer, and typically, I would get back home at a very late hour. It's a physically grueling 2 days that I do ministry at Stonybrook and sometimes, I forget that even in my waking up early and sleeping late is not the reason why I should rejoice. Far be it from me, that I would take joy and feel content just because I can say at the end of the day, "I've done quite a lot today.."

If I do not actively remind myself to let God be the master architect of the Stonybrook ministry, all of my labor to seek out students and all my waking up early and sleeping late is vanity - it is nothing without His hands in it.

It doesn't take away the actions of the laborers - we must still labor. The watchmen must still watch. The builders must build. But the perspective behind these actions must be redeemed. They/we must know that our watching, our building is wholly contingent on the hands of God working in and through us.

ESV study bible said it best - "diligence is not greed or restless anxiety."

I would go one step further and say that faithful living is not greed or restless anxiety. God's people must learn to be able to sleep comfortably at night. Why? Because our God is in control.

It is this truth that allowed Christ to sleep in the ship while the waters roared outside.

It is this truth that allowed Peter to sleep in prison, even when facing impeding death.

Lord, be the builder of our lives. Help me realize that Christians should be the best sleepers at night. Because we serve a God who never sleeps nor slumbers.