By DAWN REED

Guest Columnist

I’m doing a Bible study through the book of Luke with a young lady at church. Every morning we have verses to read and questions to answer.

This week, we’ve focused on chapter 2. (We just started 12 days ago.) While we won’t be breaking down every single verse, we’ve been wringing all we can out of the first two chapters.

Yesterday and today we read about the shepherds in the story of Jesus’ birth. I’ve read these verses so many times over the years but every single time I read them I get something new from them. At different ages, different stages, and in different circumstances God can use the same Scripture over and over to speak to us. Amazing!

In Luke 2:8, the shepherds were having just a normal, mundane night of work. Do you think they ever got tired of the same thing, day in and day out? Did they think their jobs didn’t matter? Did they long for more? Everyday work can sometimes seem boring and/or frustrating. Did you have dreams of changing the world but now you feel you’re not changing anything? Do you daydream of greener pastures…other vocations especially when times are tough?

At work…that’s exactly where God showed up-in the form of His angels! Suddenly everything changed. An angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and it scared them to death! What if they had “called in” that day? They would’ve missed the greatest event of their lives!

God clearly has a plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 says: “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He “plants” us places that He can use us. There is a definite reason God has allowed you to be where you are.

Our work…is not who were ARE-it’s what we DO. Sometimes we put too much emphasis on “what we DO” and it becomes in our minds “who we ARE”. (Been there, done that!) But, then other days we can think we are so insignificant at work that we are not making a difference at all.

God can use our employment as much for ministry as it is for income! You may not change the WHOLE world, but God can use you to change YOUR world! Five days (or more) per week you come in contact with co-workers, customers or patients. Are you using those encounters for good or for bad? You see people who are in need and often in pain or crisis. Do you see them as a frustration or as a person? Do you look them in the eye or do you just push them on through so you can get to lunch or get home?

Take a good look at how you treat people at work. Are you smiling or encouraging? Do they know you know Jesus or would they be surprised to hear it? Are you the constant complainer in the group? Are you doing your best? Colossians 3:23 says: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” You may feel that you are the only one really working while everyone else acts like they are on break. Ask God to reveal any changes you need to make in your attitude about work and ask Him for the strength and determination to make those changes. If you need to make a job change, pray and ask Him for guidance. He knows what’s best and what’s in your future.

Just like the shepherds, He will show up at work and blow your ever lovin’ mind!