Do The Works of Him Who Sent You

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.

John 9:4

Yesterday, we began looking at the sixth sign of Jesus in the Book of John, the healing of the man born blind. We saw that it is God’s desire to glorify Himself in our lives, no matter what the situation may look like. He wants us to always trust Him wholeheartedly, knowing that He is all-wise and all-loving. He truly cares about you and me more than we can care for ourselves.

Now, Jesus was using this opportunity to direct the disciples’ attention to something very important. After helping them see that it is the will of God to glorify Himself in the life of this blind man, He gives them a crucial principle about Himself and how His disciples should perceive the work of God. He says in verse 4: “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”

Jesus draws our attention to two things here. First, that we all have a limitation of time; there is day and night. In this context, Jesus is referring to the time spent on earth (the day), and after this comes the night (death). Like Jesus, we must remember that our time on this earth is limited, and we must be productive with it because we will be accountable for it all.

Secondly, He points out what we are expected to do with this time: to do the works of Him who sent us (God). Jesus calls us to be diligent workers in God’s vineyard. He Himself was always working, and everyone who came to Him was attended to; He never cast anyone off. This means Jesus utilized every opportunity to do the work of God. This prompts us to ask, “How many times have you given excuses as to why you cannot do the work of God?” Jesus is saying to us today that the most important work to do is the work of God. This is why He stopped to heal the blind man. Jesus wants us to always stop and do the work of God as we journey through life. He is calling us to be hard workers in His Kingdom because our Father has been working from the beginning, and so must we work.

While writing this devotion, I often found myself distracted by other tasks and sometimes didn’t write when I should have, which delayed its completion. This has shown me the need to re-evaluate my priorities. Can you also take a moment to consider whether you are actually doing the work of God, or if your life is consumed by other concerns? If so, you know your priorities may not be set right. The reason you are given tasks in life is so you can also stop and do the work of God.

In summary, Jesus is saying to you, “Time is not on your side; do the work of God today.” Just as Jesus said in John 6:29, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” To do the work of God is to believe in Jesus, and the proof that you believe in Jesus is that you do the things He does. Therefore, Jesus is saying to us today, “Do what you see Me do today.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, I have given so many excuses as to why I cannot do the work of God. Lord, have mercy on me. Help me to do Your work each day. May doing Your work be paramount in my heart, and may I give my life each day to fulfill Your work.