Daily Message 02.18.2022

​Prov. 10:5.  He that gathereth in summer is a wise son:  but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
II Kings 7:3.  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here till we die?
The word of God is full of wisdom and admonishment concerning our being industrious in the Lord.   Adam was created and placed in the Garden of Eden to care and take care of it.  This meant there would be manual labor involved and man since then has had to toil in work to earn his bread in this world.  Now to some this may seem to be a lack of faith being demonstrated as the Lord has promised He would take care of all our needs (including food, clothing, and shelter) as long as we place Him first in our lives.  This is absolutely true but the Lord also teaches that we are to be industrious in our walk of faith.  That does not always mean by sweat of the brow or manual labor.  Praying is a labor if done in the manner and for the reason as God instructs.  Studying the word of God can be a labor but also a great blessing and benefit whereby we can grow in grace and love of the Lord.  
Jesus was absolutely industrious during His life upon this earth.  From His early childhood we see this evident until His last expression on the cross.  When He was about 12 years old His earthly father and mother took Him and the family and traveled to Jerusalem to pay taxes as was the duty of all the citizens at that time in the region.  The family traveled in a caravan with a large group. This was out of protection from bandits or other hazards along the way.  When they started the journey home, after several days, Jesus was not found among them.  Then His father and mother; Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.  They found Him in the synagogue preaching and teaching the Good News.  When they asked Him why He had not come with them His reply was:  Don’t you know I must be about my Father’s business.  This was not the business Joseph was in as Joseph was a carpenter and it is evident that Jesus learned something of this trade as He was growing up in this home.  But that was not His true vocation or purpose for being here.  He had a greater calling and purpose.  
And this calling and purpose has great meaning and purpose for us today.  Jesus clearly labored in His work here.  We have evidence from God’s word of His going to prayer that would continue well into the night and sometimes all night long.  And His prayers could be extremely intense as was seen in the garden where He was in such labor of the effort that He began to perspire.  James tells us that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.   Much means an abundance.  James is describing the result of an intense prayer to God and that it has Great benefit.  Not just in the request being made, but also to the requestor.  Consider that when we are in prayer to God, even one when we are not on our knees or maybe filled with the most choice words to describe our needs and request; He hears that petition.  And He answers that petition.  The request may be as simple as Lord Help Me!  A cry from the depth of the heart of one of his own that He has died for.  Who are we to question if God has heard our prayer or would even consider its request.  The prayer is offered up to the God of all Glory who came and gave Himself for us  that we might eternally be with Him.  In such sacrifice how can we even question whether He hears or would consider our request.  There is a proper manner in which to approach the most High God in prayer and we should always be mindful and come in a humble position begging and acknowledging our weakness and disparate need of Him and His Grace and Mercy.  One point that stands out so dramatically in the Psalms of David is his continual humility before the Most High and always giving Him reverence and honor.
We know there is nothing that we as mere men of flesh can give or do for God to ever equate to what He has done for us.  Indeed, the Lord has been so Good to Me, as in the old hymn, should be on our lips continually and in our minds and heart.  For The Lord is Good and He is Good to His own in Abundance.  May the God of Glory bless you this day with the richness of His grace and you learn more of Him to serve Him even better.  May we be wise sons and daughters of this Great God and gather in the summer that we may harvest abundantly when Harvest is here.  God bless you all and pray for our services and especially for one another.  What a privilege to pray for those we love, for God has given us that love in our hearts by changing it and He shows us His mighty and abundant Grace each day.  God bless and keep each of you.
Love in Christ.
Bro Mike