Who Do You Work For?
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4
Read Galatians 5:19-22; Philippians 2:12-13
The Lord Jesus did not perform His own work while He lived on the earth, but He did the work of His Father. God directed all things so that a baby was born blind, and after many years was sitting along the way where Jesus passed by. This was not by chance. God directs all things. We have an example of this before us, just as in the life of Ruth when she happened to glean in the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:3). Ruth and Boaz were used in the genealogy of the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus! Was this just by chance? What do you think?
Moreover, how do you view the choices you are called to make in life with respect to your education, your career, marital status and so on? Is God’s honour your number one priority when considering these things? Do you pray for His guidance in these important matters?
In the translation of our text the Lord says: I must work. However, some earlier Greek manuscripts say: We must work the works of Him. This includes not only the Lord Jesus but also His followers. This is logical when we realize that Christ has sent His Spirit to dwell in His disciples. The Holy Spirit dwelled in the Lord Jesus as the Head, but also in His followers as His body, as our Lord’s Supper form also indicates. This is a difficult task for His people, to be sure! If you belong to the Lord, this means that the desire of your heart is to walk according to the will of God in all your ways. This will also bring many struggles. However, Christ’s true disciples would not have it any other way. For, the night is coming.
Thought: God works in His people both to will and to do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
Psalter 428: 8 (based on Psalm 119) Thy Word is as a lamp unto my feet, A light upon my pathway unto heaven; I’ve sworn an oath, which gladly I’ll repeat, That I shall keep, as always I have striven, Thy righteous judgments, holy and complete, When unto me Thy helping grace is given.