God is not a magician
- Praise Olorunosebi
- Jan 15, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 24, 2023
“Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 NLT
Repeat after me
God is not a magician
God is not a magician
God is not a magician
I was watching a clip from America's got talent. One of the contestants said "I practice almost everyday and try to be consistent with what I do" and when he performed, it was obvious the work he put into the talent he had. A lot of other great contestants also said the same thing but then I thought of how Lazy some Christians are not wanting to put work in anything and expect God to answer their prayers. Some believers know how to pray better than putting in work.
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?”
James 2:14 KJV
Some people are looking for promotions and bonuses or growth in their jobs/ businesses this year. However, to get a promotion you also have to put in work because the higher you go the more work you will do. Some people are deceived by that glamorous salary and lifestyle but do not fully understand the hard work you will have to put in to maintain that position and if you are lazy when you get that position, you might not be able to maintain it and get frustrated at the end of the day.
God is not a magician he will not just give you something just because you follow him. You will see a lot of Christians complaining of how the people of the world are getting rich, the promotion and so on well, they worked for it. Td jakes said God will not give you a chair, he will give you a tree, It's left to you to turn that tree into a chair.
“The desire of the slothful killeth him; For his hands refuse to labour.”
Proverbs 21:25 KJV
What are you going to do differently this year to get that promotion, to reach that goal. It's not just about writing down your goals it's more about doing them. What extra skill do you need to learn to get that position or what more can you do to have the best?
“In all labour there is profit: But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”
Proverbs 14:23 KJV
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.”
Proverbs 22:29 KJV
God did not magically make an ark appear for Noah. Noah had to build the ark.
“It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Hebrews 11:7 NLT
The apostles in the bible had to go about preaching the word of God, they could have just stayed where they were preaching the gospel, but they also kept in a lot of work and because of their hard work we are able to know who Jesus is today. Paul said:
“For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 KJV
“The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”
Proverbs 13:4 KJV
We also need to be careful what we pray for, are you actually capable of that position? Sometimes we need to be honest with ourselves. Yes, it is good to dream big but are you ready or have what it takes to achieve that dream? Some prayers look like they are not answered because God cannot do it but because either we are not ready or prepared yet for what we are asking God for.
“Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.”
Proverbs 24:27 NLT
We also have another set of people who are working really hard for something, and it looks like it's not getting anywhere. You might ask what about all my hard work. Sometimes you might need to ask questions like why is this not working? what am I doing wrong? maybe you are chasing this in the wrong direction or that should not be something you should even be doing in the first place, maybe that goal is not for you that's why it's important to ask God for direction like I mentioned in my previous blog post "back to work". When God is involved, it just makes it easier. Pastor Bolaji used an example of our two legs, walking without God makes you walk with one leg which makes it slow and harder but with God you walk with two which makes it faster and easier to achieve that goal, does not mean it will be easy. We are blessed to have God not like people of the world who just lean on their own power or strength.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Habakkuk 2:3 KJV
Let's Pray:
Heavenly Father thank you for your word today and give us the grace to not be lazy Christians. Let us work with faith to actualize our goals ijn. Amen
Shalom!
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