What is in Your Job Description?

This Bible is not based on a true story.  It is a true story.  Man wants to politicize everything but God’s Word is for all people of all ages.  The people who wrote it were instruments of God; they believed it and we believe the same now some 2,000 years later.  Habakkuk was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born but it is still true.  It calls for us to trust in the Lord.

What is in your job description?  Habakkuk was a prophet and writes of the service God called him to do.  We’re saved to serve the Lord.  What Habakkuk wrote is the basic part for any job.  Our jobs in this world are about earning a living, but our greatest job is our service to the Lord.  Job titles here come and go, but as Christians, God expects us to serve.  We do not serve to be saved; rather we serve because we are.  We have a responsibility to the Lord.  Our desire should be to serve our heavenly Father.

Habakkuk 2: I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. ² And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. ³ For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. ⁴ Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

I’m glad someone ran to me with the gospel and witnessed.  It is our responsibility to take off with the Word.  It is our reasonable service to be a witness.  Is there enough evidence to convict you and me of being a Christian?  To the world it’s almost a crime to be a Christian.  Paul said he spoke the words of life; people thought he was mad but he was simply showing Jesus to others.  If the world ever needed us to show Jesus it is now.  If they ever needed consistency in our life it is now.  I’m glad someone did that for me.  Getting saved is real and it changes people.  We have a duty and time is running out.

Last week was the Republican Convention.  This week is the Democratic one.  I’m glad there is a Lord’s Day right here in between them.  What a mess!  I heard one reporter say the fate of the world lies in the convention.  The Lord is truth.  There is One greater than any politician.  We cannot trust in man for our future.  Set your heart to the Lord and him only.  We cannot serve two masters.  The situation in Israel was hopeless.  They quit looking to the Lord.  They had their idols mixed in with their religion.  They were a reproach in the eyes of the world.  Our service is a critical factor to the success of the world.  God is calling us to be a living epistle for him.

A job description for the Lord has a common denominator for us all no matter who we are or what we’re called to do.  If you’re employed you must stand upon your watch—that means your shift.  If you don’t show up for work you do no good.  Your boss wants you on time to work your full shift.  The first thing we have to do in our service for the Lord is show up.  Show up for service and for worship.  This is what’s hurting many churches.  They have so many who do what they want, what suits them and when.  Let’s suit God.  We’re called to show up and be in our place.

The Lord wanted Habakkuk on the tower. That reminds me of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.  Everyone got in their place.  If they had not done so the wall wouldn’t have been finished.  It’s impossible to do what we’re called to do if we don’t show up and be at our place.  When I worked at Columbus McKinnon I had three stations to take care of.  If I didn’t work things got backed up for everyone else on the line.  Ezekiel said to make a chain.  We’re on the assembly line of God.  Others are part of it.  When we’re not in our place everything gets out of focus.

Habakkuk said he was going to show up.  We can boast of how we love the Lord but if our feet don’t hit the ground and run with it people see through us like a bag full of holes.  If we want to convince people, we have to serve.  Habakkuk showed up.  He got in his place.  Too often we want to boss God around and tell him what to do as if he’s the servant.  We have no business telling God how to do things.  His way is best.  We’re the sheep.  Jesus is the shepherd.  If we don’t watch it we’ll be in trouble.  We must let God be boss.  Let’s serve him by saying “Lord, whatever you say I’ll do it.”  Remember that’s what Mary told the servants at the wedding in Cana.  Whatever Jesus tells you to do, do it.  Let him be the Shepherd.  He doesn’t need our contrariness.  We have the best boss and work in the best vineyard when we serve the Lord.  It’s the best service there is.  Be what God wants but also do what he wants.

Time is short.  Let’s serve the Lord.  As stewards we will give account.  Habakkuk said he was going to show up and be in his place and do it God’s way.  Those are the basics of the job.  God needs us to do our service.  The world needs us to do it!