Broken Backs or Bent Knees
Work Smarter, Not Harder
The alarm clock rang. I hit the snooze button. It rang again. I just turned it off. I awakened 45 minutes later. I realized, I was going to be late for the church meeting and for the work at the clinic. And then, I heard Him speak to me, softly and clearly. Michael, kneel first to pray, then stand to work. I ignored this. Instead, I jumped out of bed. I was running late for work and I had what seemed a million other things to do. I had no time for kneeling and thanking God for the gift of life that morning. I had to get going. I dressed in a hurry.
I took a quick shower, donned my usual scrub shirt and pants and.., oh my! The pain was sudden, excruciating, and worse of all, completely unexpected. I leaned over to pick up my shoes from the floor and almost fell on my face as a lightning bolt shot through my lower back into my right buttock and thigh.
Then I remembered. What God wants is not a hard worker. What God wants is a faithful servant. The faithfulness is not in how hard I work, how much back breaking labor I do. The faithfulness is manifest in how I kneel to pray, to worship, give thanks and listen.
God does not want me to bear the burden. He has already done this. He wants me to accept the fact that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow, not every back must break. God will not place a back breaking burden on me. I am the laborer, but the burden is of God. Whenever I take the burden, I am not in keeping with His command.
The scripture reminds me again and again what is required. It is not about working hard. It is about working smart. It is about letting God carry the burden and do the sacrifice and commit to Him the worship and praise that is due His name.
Micah 6:7-8 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Michael, don’t break your back trying to serve Me. I am not impressed with how hard you work. Bend your knee in praise and worship. My burden is light.