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Trusting his Work
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“You … have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” Colossians 3:9b-10.
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Have you ever ended a day wondering what you actually accomplished? I sure have! Despite our best efforts, laundry piles return, meals disappear in minutes, ministry efforts seem unnoticed, and difficult relationships don’t improve. Is our work invisible? Effective? Worth the effort?
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Allow me to transport your weary mind to a peaceful village by the sea. A father asks his young son to take a bucket down to the shore, fill it, and bring it back. The boy obeys, and the next day the father asks again. This goes on day after day. The boy becomes frustrated because the bucket has holes in it, and by the time he walks back from the sea, the water has leaked out. He feels his labor is wasted, he is exhausted, and the task seems pointless.
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Finally, the boy complains: “Dad, what is the point? The bucket is broken, and no water makes it back to you.”
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The father tells him to look inside the bucket. The boy realizes that while the bucket did not hold water, the constant flow of seawater had washed away all the dirt and grime inside it. The bucket was clean, whereas before it had been filthy and unusable.
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The father says: “The purpose wasn’t to bring the water to me. The purpose was to clean the bucket.”
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We strive to do what our Father asks us to do in our various roles. The human thing to do is measure our success in the form of finished projects or visible results. Thankfully, the measure of our work isn’t always visible. The boy focused on the water while his father focused on the bucket. Likewise, you and I can get caught up in outcomes while our heavenly Father works on our hearts.
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There are times when we feel ineffective, we face disappointments, or our efforts seem wasted. It is in that friction, in the constant swishing and swashing of life, that God is at work. That’s how Jesus said discipleship would be—carrying heavy things (Mark 8:34), striving, but not always seeing what God sees (Matthew 5:8).
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After Jesus’ saving work on earth was done, he promised the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth (John 16:13) and help us grow spiritually (Ephesians 3:16). The Holy Spirit’s work is largely invisible, yet immensely effective. And Jesus promised results: “‘Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive” (John 7:38-39).
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Whenever you and I are in the Word, the Holy Spirit is quietly, faithfully doing his work. (The church word we use for this process is “sanctification.”) We don’t always see how God is working, but we can trust that he is not wasting our time. He is purifying us, transforming us into the image of his Son (Colossians 3:10).
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Dear Jesus, help me remain in the Word as I go about the tasks of today, tomorrow, and the next day. Help me trust that as a redeemed child of God, I am being purified and set apart for the work you intend me to do. Amen.
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Written by Angie Molkentin
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You should also know
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Upcoming webinar
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Sacred Rhythms: Building a Life of Daily Devotion
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Thursday, June 11, 7:00 p.m. CDT
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Have you ever felt guilt when it comes to studying God’s Word? Maybe you don’t know where or how to start, maybe it’s the busyness of life. Maybe you aren’t understanding the words you read. Whatever it is, you are not alone.
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Join WELS Women’s Ministry June 11 for our webinar, “Sacred Rhythms: Building a Life of Daily Devotion” for encouragement and practical solutions for your daily devotional life. Our panelists will share their struggles, experiences, and tips for studying the Word. We will share resources and address challenges like how to incorporate a devotional life on vacation, how to be flexible in hard seasons, and how you can work towards staying consistent even with a busy schedule. And if you are just looking for new ideas or resources, this webinar is for you, too.
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This sacred rhythm is time well spent. Let’s build a life of daily devotion!
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Online Bible study
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Despite a separation of thousands of years and miles, we’re much more like them than we first realize. This summer, you’re invited to join Women’s Ministry for an online Bible study focusing on “Our Bible Sisters.” Throughout this five-week series, we’ll look at more than just the heroic actions of biblical women. We’ll also consider how our unchanging God met these flawed, real women in their daily struggles and learn to find his grace, faithfulness, and purpose in our own daily realities. Please join us this summer as we get to know five of our Bible sisters better!
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The study is offered twice each week—8:00 a.m. (Central) on Saturday mornings and 7:00 p.m. (Central) on Monday evenings—starting July 11.
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About WELS
Women's Ministry
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Women’s Ministry exists to nurture, encourage, and equip women to faithfully use their gifts for service in God’s kingdom. Learn More.
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Find WELS Women's
Ministry on social media
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Follow WELS Women's Ministry on Facebook and Instagram. Share and make comments to help us spread the news about WELS Women's Ministry!
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Contact us
We'd like to hear from you! Contact us for additional information regarding WELS Women's Ministry or simply
visit wels.net/women.
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