Day 4
Turn Your Home, Workplace, School
into a Temple
John Brydon
O.k., I’m going to cheat. I gave some thought to what I wanted to say
in this devotional. I prayed about it a bit.
I did some research. In my research I
came across a devotional by Charles Spurgeon.
He said what I wanted to say, but said it much better (and probably
shorter, too). So, I’m going to let you
read what Spurgeon wrote.
First, I’d like you to note
something. Claudia wrote a devotional
titled “Drawing Closer to God While Scrubbing Toilets” (Week 7, Day 4) in
connection with the “Love the Lord with all your heart” section. It fit there and it would fit here. What applied beautifully to “Love the Lord
with all your heart” also would apply beautifully to “Love the Lord with all
your strength”. It’s pretty obvious
that I’m not given the option of picking and choosing what I like or what makes
me comfortable when it comes to loving God.
I am to do my best, holding nothing back, when it comes to loving the
Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and loving others as I
love myself.
Now, for the really good devotional, as it
appears in Morning & Evening, a collection of devotionals written by
Charles Spurgeon and published by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. This was given to me by a good friend; I
frequently read one just before going to sleep.
I recommend it, if you want a peaceful night’s sleep.
“And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him.” Colossians 3:17
“So whether you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31
“Do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus…” To what choice order of
officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a right divine? Ah,
no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance
permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Speaks then the
apostle to those so-called “right reverend fathers in God,” the bishops, or
“the venerable the archdeacons”? No,
indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the
wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants,
ay, and to slaves. Among the toiling
multitudes, the journeymen, the day labourers, the domestic servants, the
drudges of the kitchen, the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord’s
chosen, and to them he says, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord,
and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds
a halo around the most humble occupations.
To wash feet may be servile, but to wash His feet is royal work. To
unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master’s shoe
is a princely privilege. The shop, the
barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to
the glory of God! Then “divine service”
is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness
unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and
its golden candlestick.”
“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one
speaking the very words of God. If
anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all
things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” I Peter 4:11
Prayer: Reflecting specifically on this
devotional, write out a prayer to God.
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