Fit for the Job?

Do you ever struggle with feeling that you aren't equipped for the job? I felt that way two summers ago when I began working in a factory. If you know very well at all you know that is not the type of environment for me. I love doing things outdoors and I always have. I am not a handyman though and have never really been one. The factory was a wood working factory that is known world wide in my small hometown of Archbold, Ohio. I was going to work there so that I could make a decent amount of money and so that I could be taught a valuable lesson about how much of a blessing college is. I am not going to get into much detail about what I did there, but it was 45-50 hours a week of running a flat press/glue press machine with a fellow employee. Not my element at all. Just because it wasn't my element when it came to physical talents and traits doesn't seem that I was equipped either. As it turns out I was fully equipped for the job. God had given me a certain perspective and energy that I could bring to work everyday. Because of those things, I was able to make it through the summer and every day at work. It all came down to my mindset and the reason for doing things. I tried to get it engraved in my mind that working there was not bad and that I enjoyed making the amount of money that I made despite the work. Every morning when I woke up around 4:15 a.m. I would try to have the best attitude that I possibly could. I also had to remember why I was doing what I did. Even though I was running two machines all day, I had a reason to do it and that was to glorify God. I was going to glorify Him by how hard I worked every day. It wasn't about how good or but I did things but the effort I put it. I believe that is how it is in all walks of life. If you work as hard as you can and give it your all, you will get results.

I shared that story because I was reading in 2 Peter toady about conforming one's calling and I thought that story related fairly well.

2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mural affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have then is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I didn't share that story about a factory to tell you that you can get through a summer job. I shared it because it was small example. I want you to know that you can get though anything in life with His divine power. Through God's promises we get to participate in his divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. What I highlighted was what I believed were the most important verses in the passage. Here is it again. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mural affection; and to mutual affection, love. I love that because you just keep adding awesome traits to awesome traits. If that makes sense. I imagine playing Mario Kart and you keep getting all the boxes and the entire race you are in first place and every single box you get, it's the bullet. Nobody stands a chance at beating you in Mario Kart if that is the case. Same way with life. If we make the effort to add all of those good things together the evil desires of the world do not stand a chance. Apart from the world not standing a chance, I believe what is said after the verse is more important. After the verse it says, "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." If you have those traits and put in the effort to better them every day, you are going to have an effect on people and you are going to be so productive in all walks of life. Knowledge is the beginning of all things and imagine being effective and productive in that area. I think that is the most important part.

I want to end with this. "Make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Make every effort my friends. I don't know about you but I would love a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ someday. Never feel like you are not fit for the job. We all are as long we put in the effort. If you think about it there is one true eternally important job and that is advancing the kingdom, loving Jesus and loving others. God has given you everything you in order to do that.