In a Rut at Work? Get Jesus in Your Boat
By Rick Warren
“Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17 GNT).
Ever wonder why God isn’t blessing your work?
The answer might be pretty simple. Maybe you never invited him to be a part of it.
Yesterday we talked about the story of Andrew and Simon Peter and their empty fishing nets in Luke 5. They had gone all night without catching a single fish.
But when Jesus got into their boat and they did what he told them to do (“Let down the nets for a catch”), God did the rest. They caught so many fish that their nets began to break, and they needed to get extra help to bring the load in.
What was different between the period of time when they couldn’t catch anything and the moment when they had too much fish to handle?
It’s the same lake, the same boat, the same nets, the same fishermen, and the same fish. The difference between empty nets and abundance was Jesus’ presence in the boat.
It was a game-changer. They were no longer fishing by themselves. God was in their boat.
What’s your boat? It’s whatever you do to make a living.
If you want God to bless your work, you need to invite God to be a part of it.
This isn’t salvation. I know lots of people who have Jesus in their lives but not in their jobs. To get Jesus into your boat, you need to dedicate your career to him.
When Simon Peter and Andrew did this, God gave them more fish than they could handle.
How did these guys go from nothing to abundance? They let Jesus use their boat as a platform for his ministry.
You don’t pray that God will make you a success so you can serve him with your career. You do the opposite. You tell God, “I’m failing in my career, but I’ll give you whatever I have as a platform for you to work.”
That’s when God does a miracle.
Whatever you want God to bless, you give him first place in. That means you’re no longer a real estate agent, a teacher, a landscaper, or an accountant. You’re a missionary disguised as a real estate agent, a teacher, a landscaper, or an accountant. Regardless of what your career is, you make the commitment that you’re a missionary first.
The Bible says, “Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17 GNT).
Everything means everything, including your career.
Maybe you’re in a rut right now and you’re brainstorming every option to turn your career around. You’re considering a move, a new job, or an entire career change. Perhaps that’s what you need to do.
But do this first: Ask Jesus to take control of your boat. Commit to using your work for God’s glory.
Then watch Jesus do a miracle.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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