Scripture:
Genesis 2:5, 9
Sat, 12 November 2022

Work and Provision of God

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about work?

Deeper Reflection
GOD DOES NOT INTEND FOR US TO LOOK AT WORK PURELY in economic terms like the world. But we must “work” that we may “eat” (2 Thess 3:10). It is both a divine design and divine command. And there is a place for working hard for one’s sustenance, as Paul demonstrated (2 Thess 3:8). But we must not view work just in terms of being practical and realistic. We are to look at work theologically – as God sees it.There was a point in creation when “no shrub of the field was yet in the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprouted” (v.5a). Why? Because “the LORD had not sent rain upon the earth” and “there was no man to cultivate the ground” (v.5b). God has designed work to be a divine-human operation. But the primary part belongs to God. Unless God sends the rain upon the earth, nothing will happen, no matter how smart and how hard man cultivates the ground. Overarching and undergirding our work must be “Behold, I have given you every plant…every tree…[to] be food for you” (Gen 1:29). As God sends the rain and man cultivates the ground, ultimately, it is “the LORD God [who] caused to grow every tree out of the ground” (v.9).God is the source of whatever we earn from work. But we must “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”, and God will provide “all these things” that we need (Matt 6:33). And we can work without worry, knowing that God “knows that you need all these things” (Matt 6:31-32).
Application:

Where is God in my work?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To rest in God’s faithful provision in their work
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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