Happy New Year! We are two weeks into 2023, and as with many of us, I’m sure you have been thinking about what changes, challenges, hopes, and goals to focus on in the new year. Some are obvious; more happiness, money, weight loss, exercise, quality time with family and friends, and more Patriots wins! I’m sure you get the idea.

One challenge for Christians is balancing our “being” with God and our “doing” for God. I have been thinking about what more of God looks like in my life this year. Given how I am wired, I resonate more with “doing” than “being.” It’s not that I don’t want to be with God, but I have to be intentional about ensuring that my “doing” for God comes out of my “being” with God. To reverse those two things would suggest that my “doing” for God qualifies me to be “with” God (acceptance). It does not. Consider what Jesus said to the disciples:

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me, and I with you, the relationship is intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing.” John 15:5, The Message

For our “doing” for God to be effective, it must come from our “being” connected to Him. Jesus says He is the Vine. When we are joined with Jesus we can do many things (out of that connection), but if we are not connected, we are unproductive.

Think about that for a minute: Is it possible that what we are doing is a waste of time because what we are doing is not coming from God? Robert Mulholland says it like this. “We can be so busy being in the world for God that we fail to be in God for the world.” That is a sobering thought. I don’t want to waste my time and energy thinking what I’m doing for God is beneficial only to discover it is not. It’s not that God doesn’t want us not to do anything but sit, meditate and pray all day, but what God is saying is what we do becomes so much more effective and powerful when it comes out of our time being with God.

If this has your attention, here are some questions to consider over the next couple of days:

Do I lean more towards “doing” or “being” with God?
Does what I do come from my being with God, or am I operating from my own desires and strength?
What might God want to change in me today?

Gracious God, may you be at the start, middle, and end of each day. May we work from the inside out, where our doing comes from being with you. Be our source, strength, guide, and love today. AMEN.

Peace,

Todd Szymczak

Executive Pastor

Back to NR NEWS

The post Weekly Devotion – Todd Szymczak, Executive Pastor appeared first on North River Church - Pembroke, MA.