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Are Your Works Approved?

Do you get tired of doing the same thing—over- and over again?
Do you wonder if washing these dishes—again, will matter for eternity?

People want to do something that matters.
We don’t want to get to the end of our lives and realize none of it matters.
People want to save the earth (we’ve talked about that HERE).
People want to help people. (As if the rest of us, don’t).
But how do you know what you are doing will last?

We know our works will be evaluated and shall I say the forbidden word— judged?
The wood, hay, and stubble that we do will burn up. 

Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay straw each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.I Corinthians 3:12-15.

That assumes God has a standard for what He deems good.

How do we know if what we are doing is good? Or even good enough?
How do make what we do, even the little things, last?

God tells us. 
Let’s read:

Do return, O Lord; how long will it be?
And be sorry for Your servants.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us,
And the years we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants
And Your majesty to their children.

[All this is focusing on God and what He has done.]

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:13-17

You see, by focusing on God and His attributes, we change what we do.
We no longer see as important things we thought were essential before.
Why? 
We see life through God’s eyes.

That project that was so important—seems trivial now.
Those things that consumed our time seem like a waste.
Our priorities and values change.

Not only will focusing on God change what we do, but also how we do it.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. Ecclesiastes 9:10.

Ever make your child apologize for a wrong deed. 
They spit it out like some venom escaping their mouths. 
You know they didn’t mean it.
But the act was done and they could move on to what they wanted.
Sometimes our kind deeds are done with that same motive.
The act may be right, but the right motive is sorely lacking.
But we want to think it's good enough. 

God wants all of us, even our heart.
Especially our heart.
He wants us to love Him with our heart, mind and soul.
That's who we are, and what we do, and how we act.

Ever have someone try to manipulate you?
They ask nicely, but you feel the edge behind their words and know it comes with strings attached.
You feel like the bad person for not co-operating, but nor do you feel good even when you do the deed.
You are coerced.
It’s hard to be cheerful with that manipulation.

That's not what God wants.
He's not manipulating us to do what is right. 
He waits and allows us to give Him the crippled lamb for the sacrifice (as the Israelites did), or the last portion of our money—if anything is left over.
But our works are for naught.
God doesn't need it.
And it does us no good.
[Other than deceiving ourselves that we did something good.]

But by looking to God and seeing the majesty of His work,
God rests His favor on us.
He confirms the work of our hands—whatever your hands must do.

Know what confirm means?
To give approval.

God gives approval to what we have done.
He doesn’t give a list of what things are acceptable and what aren’t.
Washing dishes is good, but cleaning the bathroom is not. 
No!

He confirms the work of our hands—all of it.

The work—what we do, every day, several times a day, when it needs to be done, even those little deeds that seem insignificant,
Is CONFIRMED.

Want to do things that last?
Focus on the ETERNAL GOD
And what your hands finds to do will be approved.


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I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
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The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
alt
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
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Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

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