Work where God is working

For a great and effective door has opened to me, 

and there are many adversaries.

1 Corinthians 16:9

Open doors of service may also let in adversaries. Paul had many of both. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Ephesus, he was trying to determine where to go next. He chose to remain longer in Ephesus because of the open doors of service God granted him. Knowing that God had opened the doors of ministry, Paul was not going to leave, regardless of how many enemies he faced. We might assume that Paul would reach the opposite conclusion. In light of the opposition he faced, he could have concluded that it was best to serve in less hostile regions. Instead, Paul based his decisions on God's activity rather than on what people were doing.

As you respond to God's invitations, don’t be caught by surprise when adversaries try to thwart what you are doing. If you concentrate on your opponents, you will be sidetracked from God's activity. Don’t base your decisions on what people are doing. They cannot prevent you from carrying out God's will (Rom. 8:31). Many times the most rewarding spiritual work is done in the crucible of persecution and opposition. While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out in reaction to his ministry. The city theater resounded with an angry mob who shouted for two hours in support of their god, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:23–41). Despite this fierce rejection, Ephesus became one of the chief cities from which the gospel spread throughout Asia. It takes spiritual discernment to see beyond human activity to God's will. As you seek places of service, look beyond what people are saying to find what God is doing. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

As you read this, it should make you think. 

The devotional is telling us to look deeper at the things you face in life rather than only on whatever is making you uncomfortable or happy. 

There's no retirement plan in this life for a believer.  That comes after we die. Until that day we have work to be done and it's wherever God is working. 

Read again what is said of Paul.  He didn't go where it was safe in a cushy position. He went or stayed where God was working.  Our society tends to push the whole enjoy the retirement thing.  Prove that from the Bible.  I have known true men of God who were still doing the work of God until the very end of their physical life.  Jesus in writing the New Testament says through Paul to run the race as to win the prize.  Doesn't say get most of the way through an coast.  

We who are in Christ need to keep on looking for where God needing workers in the world.  There's no justification for out of work people calling themselves Christians. 

Look at what you are doing.  Are you a worker in the harvest?  Or did you get out n start just doing your own thing?

Satan loves to get what once were committed Christians to take an off ramp in the highway of life to keep them from being useful to God.  

But I pray every day and read my Bible!  Is that all that a person who is a part of the body of Christ is supposed to be doing, or is there more?  Isn't a body part to support the other parts of the body?  A body part focuses on its purpose.  If the liver all the sudden decided it's been around long enough, it's time to retire, then the body is certainly going to suffer.  

Look at your activities. Are you doing anything for Christ?  Colossians says to do all that we do as unto the Lord.  It's referring to work. Which means the work isn't done until the Lord says so not when the world says we have enough time in.

It just may be your involvement in the work of Jesus is that involvement that is needed to find that last person who will be saved before the Rapture.  If you don't do what God called you to do, it will keep on until someone else rises up who is willing to work.

Consider your why. Why do you do what you do, is it Biblical or is it a worldview that doesn't fit God's Word?