“The Lord’s work must be done the Lord’s way.”

If you’re in a hurry, you can make it work your way. It may have a pure motive and all the marks of spirituality, but it won’t be the Lord’s way. This is a lesson we don’t seem to learn easily. That is probably because at the heart of our fallen, broken human nature lies a stubborn independence.

John Pollock, in his splendid book The Apostle, states this:

“The irony was not lost on him that the mighty Paul, who had originally approached Damascus with all the panoply of the high priest’s representative, should make his last exit in a fish basket, helped by the very people he had come to hurt.”

That about says it all, doesn’t it?

Just to set the record straight, you and I are neither the “masters of our fate” nor the “captains of our souls.” We are to be wholly, continually, and completely dependent on the mercy of God, if we want to do the Lord’s work the Lord’s way. Paul had to learn that. So must we.

My question is: Are you learning that? If not, today may be a good day to start.

If you are into New Year’s resolutions, then perhaps “Doing the Lord’s work the Lord’s way” would be a great one to put at the top of your list for this next year.