Exodus 17 Stop pretending to be God!

Exodus 17

1. Testing the Lord (Who will be God?)

Well, Exodus has been quite a roller-coaster ride hasn’t it? Imagine you were an Israelite in those days. From slavery without hope, to a great and dramatic rescue, to being trapped at the Red Sea, to being miraculously given a way out, and the most powerful army of the day being destroyed – to then, a few days later, moaning to the Lord for food and water. “I want an ice cream” indeed! (If that reference makes no sense, download last week’s sermon and listen to it!)

If we were under any illusions that God saved the Israelites because they were somehow better, more holy, than anyone else – chapters 15 and 16, and now 17, today’s chapter, soon show us otherwise. What a bunch of faithless, ungrateful, whiny windbags. I mean just LOOK at the end of verse 7 the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD here with us or not?”

Is the LORD – Yahweh – here with us or not?
Are you INSANE? What has just happened? 10 plagues. Huge rescue of millions of slaves. Pharaoah’s army utterly destroyed. Sheep and cattle and goats, gold and silver, fine clothes provided by the Egyptians. And not to mention the very waters of the sea parting in front of your eyes! Is God with us? Yes! There he is! See, the cloud in front of us. The pillar of fire by night. How can you miss it? Oh, yes, not to mention the bitter water which turned sweet, and the manna you go out and pick up EVERY DAY. Is the LORD with us? Really?

But how often are we like the Israelites. A tiny little problem appears, a bit of pain, a bit of sickness, a bit of heartache. And suddenly our world comes crashing down. Our faith flies out the window and we say “Is the Lord with me”?

I know a number of people in this church are suffering at the moment. Some with chronic illness, which stops them from being who they are. Others with potential serious, life-threatening issues. Others with deep psychological scars. Others have lost loved ones or beloved pets.

And those things can cause us to wobble. Like the Israelites we murmur. We forget the Lord. We forget what he has done for us. All we feel is the PAIN we feel now. WHY, O LORD! Have you forgotten me? Do you not care? Don’t you exist?

Like the Israelites, who only felt their thirst, we cry out like v3 But tormented by thirst, they continued to argue with Moses. “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Are you trying to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?”

Lord, do you really care about me?

How quickly we forget his past mercies to us. How quickly we forget how we were slaves to our sinful natures. How we were children of wrath. How our lives lacked purpose and direction. How we walked in darkness. And then the Lord saved us. He broke in. He opened our eyes. He flooded our lives with light and life! He gave us a new hope and a new purpose. He is with us, right with us! His Spirit lives inside of us – how much more intimate can you get? We are free! We are loved! We have a hope and a future! Praise the Lord.

And then “thirst” hits. Sickness. Heartache. Financial difficulties. What is it that you are struggling with now? Last week we wrote it on our hands as a symbolic message and gave it to the Lord. Did you give it to him? Or did you take it back, worrying over it? Do you really trust the Lord? Do you have faith?

The answer is sometimes no, we don’t have faith. Sometimes we let the problem fill our minds – become so big we can’t see anything else. The solution, of course, is what Exodus 13 told us to do: Remember the Lord. Remember what he has done. Remember his salvation, his love, how he has rescued ou. Remember how he has blessed you so abundantly in the past. Remember the Lord. Then you will not be swayed to despair, disbelief, and ultimately disobediently testing the Lord. Remember what he has done.

Sounds easy enough. But there’s a problem. And the problem is me. My own heart. But often I don’t want to remember. Because actually I WANT to have a greiveance against God. I want to play the victim, to manipulate Him into doing what I want, when I want!
In short, I want to be God. I want an excuse to go back to my old life, to justify some sinful behaviour. Haven’t you done that? Or is it just me? Oh God, I’m suffering now, I deserve to indulge in this... I know it’s a bit wrong, but you understand, right. Just a little sin....

Oh, because “Egypt” is so tempting. Our old life often seems easier. Or a different life, where I can just do what I want when I want it. Sin and selfishness is soooo tempting sometimes isn’t it. What did they say last week 16:3 “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted” What a lie! What a total fabrication! Egypt was where they were beaten, forced to work hard labour. But in their minds it has become paradise. Pots filled with meat.

How often do we look back with longing at sin. Oh, it’ll be so good (or it was so good). Forgetting what it was actually like when we were in the grip of it. Thinking about lying because it seems the easy way out. Just change a few words here and there on an insurance form or on a tax form. Leave this or that out. Or even talking ourselves out of an opportunity to share the gospel! I’ve been there. We all have. “We sat around pots of meat”, we say. “It was so good to live in Egypt” we lie to ourselves.

But we know in our heart of heart that it’s not true. We’re just angry. We are frustrated with our circumstances and so we lash out at God. Why aren’t you doing things my way?

 

This is not unexpected. You see, the root of sin is selfishness, it is the desire to be God. What did Satan say to Adam and Eve? “Take this fruit and you will be like God”. We want to be God in our lives. We want everything to go our own way. We are just like little children, just that we’re cleverer at covering up our tantrums and are able to make our demands sound reasonable and cultured. But when you strip all that away we’re saying “boo I’m thirsty” “I’m hungry” “I want an ice cream!” “I want” I demand that you, God, do what I want right now.

And so we test the Lord’s patience. It is amazingly rude. We question his goodness. We question his love. Is the Lord with me?

How do we get through this? How do we stop wallowing in self-delusion and self-pity? How do we put God back on the throne? Well, we follow Moses.

2. Let God be God

4 Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”

Moses was under tremendous pressures. In today’s passage the people are ready to stone him! That’s job pressure! “Give us water or we’ll kill you” says the angry mob. Good grief.

But Moses does not sit down in despair. He does not look longingly back to a dream world of life back in Egypt (even though he actually DID have a good life in Egypt in Pharaoh’s palace). No. He goes straight to the Lord. Your problem big guy!

This is a habit for Moses. This is what he always does. It is part of his character. When we first met Moses he was a hothead, and did things his way, in his time. Which ended up with him murdering an Egyptian, fleeing the palace, and hiding in the desert! Moses has learnt obedience, learnt that God’s man needs to be GOD’S man before he can be useful to God (and others).

4 Moses cried out to the Lord

My Dad has a phrase which he uses a lot “Bow yourself out and bow God in”. It means deliberately acknowledging your own weakness, your own need, and asking God to intervene, to take over. It is the very opposite of sin (I am God) – it is saying to God: “Please would you be God here in this situation”.

And then you listen to Him.

5 The LORD said to Moses, “Walk out in front of the people. Take your staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile, and call some of the elders of Israel to join you. 6 I will stand before you on the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink.” So Moses struck the rock as he was told, and water gushed out as the elders looked on.

Moses cried out to God “I can’t do this”. And God answered him. Come to me, he says. Walk to the rock where I am standing, and strike it. Now it’s unclear if everyone could see the Lord or just Moses. It may have been the pillar of cloud – in fact it probably was. In which case everyone would see that it was the Lord who provided them with water.

He provides. The situation was too big for Moses. He realised it was beyond him. And so he asked God to be God.

What areas to you try to be God? One area might be suffering and evil. Do you ever get weighed down by it? Well, bow yourself out and bow God in! DO not despair. YOU see no solution – but you are not God. He has it in hand. Leave it in his hands. Let Him be the solution. Let water gush out of the rock.

Ah, but what if you disagree with his solution? Moses could have said “bang the rock? No God, that’s dumb. I’ll look like a complete idiot, smacking a rock in a dry river bed. No.”
God’s solution, God’s way, is the only way. If you find yourself telling God that his plan basically sucks...then repent, stop trying to be God. How arrogant can you be, thinking that your solution is better? Who are you, O man, to question God? Were you there when the foundations of the world were laid? And so on.

It’s like when a toddler is going to decide what to do. We had Jon Espen and Colleen visiting on Friday. Jon Espen with his 18 months of wisdom was determined to touch the fireplace. Colleen patiently said “no, hot!” every time he went near. A bit like how God provided the Israelites with food and water every time. A bit like how God blesses us, provides for us, cares for us, forgives us, every time.
Jon Espen is thinking “WHY can’t I go near the fire. It is warm. It is inviting. This is what I WANT. Mom is such a killjoy. Mom hates me.” Actually, Mom loves him. Loves him very much. And so she says “No”. Jon Espen needs to trust, to have faith in Colleen. And the more he grows and matures, the more he knows that his Mom does love him, and does have his best interest at heart. Mum knows best.

God is our Father. He is a good father. Trust him. Remember what he has done in the past. Remember how he has saved you, rescued you, provided for you, grown you carried you. And trust him.

Who will be God? Let God be God.

Of course, we tend to be a bit dull, so the rest of the chapter just repeats the message. You are not God. God is God. Let God be God.

3. Let God be God

Verse 8 introduces a new problem, a new test for the Israelites: 8 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them.

In Duet 25:17 we find that the Amalekites attacked the weak and weary who were lagging behind the main group of Israelites. It was a cowardly and unprovoked attack. God, do you care? Is the Lord with us? Different problem. Same question. Lord, do you see our suffering. Are you with us?
We say to the Lord: Lord, we are sick. Lord we are grieving. Lord, we are in need. Lord, we are lonely. Lord we are under pressure. Lord, are you with us in Rock International Church? Are you with your people?

And the answer is an overwhelming YES! Because God takes it personally! Just look at verse 14 After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

It reminds me of Jesus’ words to Saul (later Paul) when he was attacking Christians. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me”. The Lord is with his people. The Lord is with his people. Be comforted. He is with us.

And during the battle the people of Israel got a big visual aid. If they tried to do things their own way – that is, when Moses’ hands were not raised in obedience to God’s command – they would lose. But if Moses’ hands were raised in obedience to God’s word – they would win. It was clear that the battle was the LORD’s. That just like at the Red Sea, the LORD would fight for them (Ex 14:14). They had to “be still”. That is, close their mouths, stop their moaning, and trust him for the rescue. Bow themselves out, and bow God in.

Oh yes, they had to fight the battle. But they fought it not trusting in their own strength and their skill with the sword. They fought it trusting in the Lord. Moses’ hands raised: they win. Moses hands fall: they lose. It’s quite a strong visual picture isn’t it?

And so when the battle is won, 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”). This victory over the Amalekites belongs to the Lord. He has won the battle. It is his banner over the battlefield. The battle is the Lord’s.

Only God can be God. I cannot be God. I cannot win the battle. I cannot make water gush from the rock. I cannot make manna appear every day. I cannot provide for myself – my provision comes from the Lord. And I cannot save myself from slavery and death.
And, unless you’re Jesus of Nazareth, neither can you!

Only God can be God. Why oh why do we struggle so much with that. So often we try to take the reigns. SO often we forget the Lord, and struggle along in our own strength. I’m going to end by sharing my own story – a time when the Lord tested me like he tested the Israelites. And I did about as well as they did!

And it was about food and water. God’s provision. Did I really trust that my daily bead comes from the Lord?
At work a few years back I was pressured, squeezed into a dishonest situation. My boss asked me to keep things secret from his boss – and his boss in turn was asking me to keep things secret from my boss. And people were being hurt, and things were nasty. The thing is, I allowed myself to be pressured because I didn’t want to lose my job. I needed my salary. I needed to earn it. It was something I did, I provided. Kind of like an Israelite going out and saing “look at all this manna I gathered” or going to the water gushing out of the rock – look at this water I am collecting. Duh!
Until one day the Lord showed me that “my” salary came from his hand, not from the company. That my salary was a gift from him, not a result of my great efforts. He is my Father. He is my Provider. And I was suddenly set free from fear, and the pressure to keep silent. And so I immediately confronted my boss, told him to repent and shared the gospel with him. True story! I’d love to tell you he repented with tears of joy... but he didn’t. I did actually keep my job in the end, but even if I hadn’t the Lord would have provided.
When we moved here to Norway we had to have in faith that He would provide. He called us, he must provide. It’s his problem. Lord I can’t do this, bow myself out, bow God in: you are the provider and protector of my family. You are the Father and Husband no.1. I just follow behind. You see, Daniel can’t be God. Only God can be God.

So whatever it is you are facing – if it feels overwhelming – if you cannot cope. Good. You have a very strong indication that the problem is not something you can handle so hint, hint, take it to the Lord. It is His problem to deal with. Let God be God.

Colossians 3:22-4:6 ALL of life: in the world.

Read Colossians 3:16-4:6

Colossians is a frightening book. Just listen to these verses.

3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
3:17 [W]hatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

At first read it’s pretty much ho-hum, of course, Christ Is Lord, yes, be good, yes. But as you read it in-depth, really LOOK at who Christ is and what we are called to do….it is a gut-wrenching, mind-spinning, fear-generating book.

Why? Because the gospel changes our lives. Because Christ is not tame and small, but giant! He is victorious, powerful, triumphing over evil spirits, striding across history from Creation to the Cross of Redemption and on to all eternity: this vast, cosmic figure supreme over all things. And he demands EVERYTHING from us. And he will not be denied. How can we deny him? How can we say no?

Being a Christian is the most frightening thing you can do.

All of life belongs to Him. Our church life, our home life, our work life. Our thoughts, our words, our actions. He is our Master, and we belong to him.

So, don’t just sit there if something needs to change. Repent. Make right with the Lord. Ask for forgiveness. We have been challenged over these past few weeks – use this time wisely, use Communion, to pray and get right with God, and then also with someone in the church, or your wife or husband, your kids. Do whatever Christ calls you to do.

Two weeks ago we looked at our relationships in the church, last week serving Christ at home: wife and husband, children and parents; and today we look at the last section: slaves and masters, and then outsiders.

1. Slaves and masters v22-4:1

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favourites. 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Like I said last week, there is surprising equality in this list from v18-4:1. The husband and the wife are to obey the Lord. Children and parents are equally addressed, and slaves and masters are reminded they are under authority. Those without power (or with less power) (wives, children, slaves) are addressed as equal citizens of heaven, being called to live in a way that pleases the Lord. Those with power (husbands, parents, masters) are reminded that their power is given under God, to be used as HE sees fit: in love, for the good of those under your power. This is no justification for abuse of power – it is the opposite!
It’s very clear that these couplets are to be read together. You cannot read v22 without also reading 4:1. Slaves must obey their masters, yes – and masters must be just and fair to their slaves! And not only that, but they have the same motivation: Christ is your master.

This is shocking. Slaves were property, not people! But here they are seen as equal with their masters before the Lord. It was this equality eventually destroyed institutional slavery, just as it destroyed institutional misogyny (abuse of women), and the institutional abuse of children. The little book of Philemon gives us a great insight into how this view of slaves as being brothers alongside their masters started to tear down the institution of slavery. It is hard to treat someone as property when they are your brother in Christ. The gospel is the most powerful change agent in the history of the world – because it changes people from the inside out.

But the gospel is not about changing societies. It’s not about winning the “culture war”. Imagine if Paul had gone on a crusade to stop slavery instead of preaching the gospel and planting churches. What a disaster! Maybe a few slaves would have been freed. And then died and gone to hell! And the society would never have changed. Only the gospel was powerful enough for that: roughly half of all people back in those days were slaves! Even highly educated people like doctors and lawyers could be slaves. Slavery was part of the culture. Tearing down slavery would have collapsed that society.

So instead, whatever our circumstance, we are called to serve the Lord. We are not called to serve the Lord when things are the way WE think they must be, but whatever the situation. Jesus showed us how to behave, whether tired and hungry or feasting, whether attacked and ridiculed or honoured. Whatever the situation, he gave glory to the Father.

So, Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you.

Maybe they were justified in slacking off. Maybe their master was bad. Maybe their master was a Christian and they resented not being set free. Shockingly, God calls them to love their master. Not “do what’s best for you”, but DO what’s best for him! But what about me, we bleat, I’m such a victim. In Christ you are no victim, but victor. In Christ you can choose to follow in his footsteps, not a doormat but a willing servant. It is empowering, it gives dignity and honour, no matter whether slave or emperor. The victim mentality makes people passive and foolish.
Instead, choose to love your boss. In the Greek the word there is literally “eye-service”. How often are we tempted to, or just do “eye-service”. The boss comes in and we’re suddenly rushing around, extremely busy – they go out and… lazy! That’s not loving. That’s dishonest.

And the motivation is strong: Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear…. not “of your master” but of the Lord. How often is our service, our work, done out of fear. Fear of discovery, fear of being fired. No, fear the Lord! His eye is certainly always upon us. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
We represent Christ. We belong to him. So whatever we are called to do, let us do it well.

The book “Thank God it’s Monday” Mark Greene sets up a comparison between two Christians in the workplace.
One Christian always witnessing to people, using every opportunity to share the gospel - but he’s a terrible worker, slacking off at every opportunity, and avoiding work (mainly to witness!). The other Christian never says a word, people don’t even know he’s a Christian – but does really good work, and all his colleagues respect him.
The point Mark makes is that we are at work to work. And witness. But our actions (bad work) can destroy our witness.

It’s one of the reasons Paul doesn’t tell the slaves to “RISE UP!”. The gospel is not about violent revolution. It’s a revolution of love. Richard Wurmbrand said this about the Christian’s persecuted in Romania by the Communists: “When you squeezed the Christian, what came out of him was love.” It was the love of Christ, the new spirit, the new nature within.

Although we are not slaves with masters in the workplace today, I think it’s clear that Paul wants us to understand that whatever applies to slaves also applies to free men in their work. Slavery was a normal form of service, and therefore, in that way quite similar to the workplace today (some people may feel they really are slaves!) in our culture. And because the principles here aren’t specific to slaves, are they? Do what’s best for your boss, serve well, honour others with your work, and, if you’re in charge of other people, be just and fair. Isn’t that the kind of place you want to work? Everyone looking out for everyone’s interest, working together, and the boss appreciates this and honours the worker’s contributions.

This passage helped me so much when I was working as an auditor. I hated auditing. It is the most boring job on the planet. I struggled so much to “work willingly” – I was so unwilling. I was so bored the temptation was to avoid work as much as possible. But these words at the end of v24 “the Master you are serving is Christ” I couldn’t get away from. Not eye-service. Fear the Lord. C’mon Daniel, serve Christ. He has provided this job. You are not auditing for the client, or for your boss, or for yourself, but for Christ. Audit for your Saviour. Now get up!

So, because you love Christ, work as if for him.

But, wait, there’s more! How did this chapter begin? 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. and 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

That mindset – to think about the things of heaven, to be living for Christ – affects everything. Even our work.

24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favourites. 4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

This life is temporary. It will soon be done and we will be with God. Very soon the veil will be torn from our eyes and we will see him. And we will be rewarded or paid back for what we have done. Don’t do what is wrong for God sees what is done in the darkness. You will not get away with it.
Instead, look to Christ. Look to your inheritance coming soon, so very soon. Time is short. Weary slave with an abusive master – look to Christ. Know that your real life is hidden with Him, untouchable, impåerihsable. A great inheritance awaits you. 3:1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand.

Our brothers in Syria and Iraq. Lift up your eyes. This life is gone in an instant. Those in prison. Those being tortured, flung out of their homes. Beaten. Meeting in secret in China, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Eritrea, Sudan, and so on. Be encouraged. We have a Master – in heaven.

So, whether slave or free man, master or worker, work for Christ, for he is our master.
Work for Christ, for soon we will be with him.
Work with love flowing through you, for the Spirit of Christ is in you, his heart, his love.
Work like Jesus.

2. Outsiders (4:2-6)

2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. 3 Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. 4 Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

Pray. Pray because what God demands of us is impossible. Pray because prayer is reminding yourself that you are not God, that you depend on Him. That I am weak, but he is strong. Prayer is not a weapon, it is not an incantation – a magic spell that if we say the right words in the right way or while doing the right things God will have to act.
In Mark 9 Jesus comes down the mountain after his transfiguration and discovers his disciples have tried to cast out a demon – but couldn’t. This demon can only be cast out by prayer he says. Huh? Because prayer is humbling yourself. It’s asking GOD to be God. My Dad calls it bowing himself out and bowing God in.

We pray first for our obedience: the way we live. It is not surprising after chapter 3 that we are called to devote ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. We cannot do this on our own. Only through Christ and in his strength.

But it’s not just focussed on us and our lives – our prayers have an outward focus: opportunities to share the gospel. Just like Paul in v3-4, asking for prayer that he would not fail to proclaim the message clearly. Yes, even the great apostle Paul desperately needs prayer. He knows how weak he is. He knows where his true strength comes from. Please pray that I will not fail in my task, he says. And then reminds us that just like him, we are to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity.
How can we share the gospel if our lives tell a different story. How can we say “I love Jesus” if our lives are shouting “I love myself”.

What does your life say about you? What does mine say about me?

Our words are worthless if our lives are the opposite of everything we say we believe. If your Dad says it’s important to put on your seatbelt but never puts on his - what are the kids going to do? Actions speak louder than words.
That why the Bible says “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Otherwise it’s just an idea - it’s just intellectual assent (agreeing in your mind that something is right). It’s not real. If it doesn’t affect your life – you don’t really believe it.

Jesus says in Luke 6:43–47 “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.… What you say flows from what is in your heart. 46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

So we pray. We pray and ask for forgiveness when we fall. We pray and thank God for his mercy to us. We pray and ask for his strength. We pray and tell him how great he is, how wonderful, how majestic and holy and awesome. And we pray that we would be bold to speak the gospel to our friends and work colleagues, our neighbours and anyone else we meet.
And we pray for each other. We pray that we will be bold like we should. We pray . Pray particularly for me, that I would be faithgul to the message of the Bible, especially the unpopular bits, or the bits that make me uncomfortable because the hit too close to home!

Pray that we will tell people the gospel.!

Because it’s not enough just to live right. “Preach the gospel, if necessary use words” is just plain wrong. It’s not Biblical, and it wasn’t uttered by St Francis of Assisi, who used to preach (with words) up to 5 times a day.

What happens if you don’t use words? No-one is saved.
People just think “Oh, they’re nice people”. And that’s why we like it. Live nicely, and you never have to offend people by telling them about sin and judgment and the lordship of Jesus.
Nobody comes to Christ through niceness. They have to be TOLD why. They have to hear about JESUS! On judgement day, “let me in, I thought my neighbour was a lovely chap” will not work. “I trust in the blood of Jesus and that alone to wash my sins and make me righteous before God”. “Come in friend.”

So we pray for God to work in us, to change us. We pray for God to speak through us, to save others. We pray that 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

At work, as “slave” or “master” we remember we work for the Lord. Our focus is on heaven. And if life is hard and unfair, we look for glory and remember that Christ, our real life, will appear soon, oh so very soon.

And we pray, pray for the strength to live like Jesus, at church, at home with our wife or husband, and our children, at work, and with non-Christians. And we pray that the Lord would make us bold to make the most of every opportunity to share Christ.