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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
There is only a slight difference ordinarily between singular and plural words. Yet, there can be a tremendous difference in their respective meanings. Today's focus text and message takes note of the change from the plural to a singular and the implications of that change. Consider the following passage: “Then they said to Him, 'What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'” (John 6.27-28).
The question Jesus was asked was a generic question which anticipated a response of like kind. The questioners were not looking for a specific and solitary response; they were looking for a list of things that might all be included under the heading, “The works of God.” They did not get a response that would allow them to make such a list. Instead, they received a singular response which could only be catalogued under the heading, “The Work of God!” This, I think, is the true significance of this passage.
A previous account of God at work can be enlightening. Consider this ancient text: “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” (Genesis 2.2-3). There were many works (plural) that God did on each of the six days of creation. Each day saw Him busy, establishing the order of things that would merge perfectly with the order of the previous and/or the order of the following day. In so doing a perfect symphony of Creative works played together to form the entirety of the universe and everything within it. That perfect symphony plays on yet today. There were individual things that He did, but collectively they were called, “His work” (singular).
This illustration is comparable to what Jesus said when He responded to the question about the works of God in the singular. While there may be many, many works that qualify as a work of God, His overall purpose in these works is to bring about belief in the human heart. Just as His individual creative works were all done to achieve the prefect creation, so His individual works are performed in order to accomplish His greater goal of faith in the hearts of men. Belief (Faith) is the absolute essential to pleasing God, so all His works are done in order to make this a reality for mankind. As the Hebrews writer declared, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11.6). All other works (confession, baptism, repentance, benevolence, prayer, etc., etc.) are of entirely no avail apart from the first essential, faith!
Even when a person comes to have faith in Jesus Christ, the work of faith is not through. It is then that the believer accepts the challenge to grow and mature in faith for the rest of his days, or as the apostles said to Jesus, “Lord, increase our faith!” (Luke 17.5). This was the vantage point from which the father of the child with mute spirit cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9.24). Unlike the creative work of God that was done in six days, the regenerating work of God continues and will continue as long as time stands. His quest to bring men to Himself will never be satisfied as long as there is hope for redemption in the hearts of men.
Given that bringing about faith in Jesus is the work of God, our work becomes His work when it is one and the same. The greatest task that lies before me as an individual is to blend my life's work with His and to make it one and the same!
Questions:
1. In what sense did God perform work at the Creation? Would the work that He did be defined the same as the work which we do from day to day? Explain.
2. What possibility/probability does man have of pleasing God apart from elementary faith in Him?
3. Why do you think the mute boy's father professed faith and then immediately ask for help in eliminating his unbelief? Is his a common problem? Explain.
4. How can we make our work one and the same as “...the work of God”?
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