Enjoying the Fruit of Previous Labor

Several months back we did a remodeling project on our laundry room.  As I mentioned in a prior post (Do Not Forget the Finishing Touches – 3/30/2015) we shortened shelves and rearranged other storage units to make room to bring a refrigerator from the garage. The reason for bringing the refrigerator inside was because Wisconsin, winter temperatures have a tendency to freeze anything left in an outside refrigerator. The undertaking was successful and we we did not lose any more food to freezing this winter.

This past weekend we entertained a small group people at our home. Wanting to focus our time on our guests, we opted to make several salads the day before. Having a space to put all of the salad in the downstairs refrigerator was very convenient. We no longer have to run outside to the garage, simply down a few stairs to retrieve the prepared salad and bring it up when it was time to eat. All we cooked on the day of our dinner was the meat. This provided the opportunity to relax and enjoy time with our company.

 This was an opportunity truly enjoy the fruits of our previous labors. On the weekend of the project, it was necessary to invest considerable time and energy. The sawing and moving things around was not particularly fun. This past weekend we were able to save time and energy and enjoy the convenience of having the refrigerator nearby. The work of that earlier weekend was very worthwhile.

 In many ways, growing in our spiritual walk reflects this same concept. Our project was to prepare a place for the refrigerator in our home. King David placed great value on preparing a place for God’s presence. “For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His habitation: This is My resting-place forever [says the Lord]; here will I dwell, for I have desired it. I will surely and abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.” (Psalm 132:13-15 AMP) David made great preparations for his son Solomon to perform the work of building a temple for the Lord. At the dedication of the temple, King Solomon invited the presence of God to enjoy a resting place among His people. “So now arise, O Lord God, and come into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints (Your zealous ones) rejoice in good and in Your goodness.” (2 Chronicles 6:41 AMP)

 We who are believers are God’s temple. “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 AMP) He has made His place to live within us. We must allow Him to remodel our lives to welcome His presence?

 This preparation will take some sacrifice on our part. It will mean setting aside some of our own wants and plans, leaving us open to God’s desire and plans for us. The more we study the Scripture and obey what it tells us, the more comfortable we will become in our relationship with the Lord. Although this takes both time and effort, the results will truly be worth it. We will greatly enjoy the fruit of our labor. “Blessed (Happy, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the Lord, who walks in His ways and lives according to His commandments. For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.” (Psalm 128:1-2 AMP) We must worship the Lord, walk in His ways and guide our lives according to His commandments. For someone who loves the Lord, this is an enjoyable form of work and the benefits of well-being are great.

When we first planned to bring the refrigerator into the house, I knew that it would be a more convenient location. Running out to the garage was never pleasant and rainy or cold days. Snowdrifts sometimes blocked the path altogether. Although we have been using the refrigerator as a backup for weeks, the true benefit was not obvious until this weekend. Likewise, the time spent learning and serving God will have benefits right from the beginning. Love, peace and joy always accompany time with God. But the great benefits of growth will become evident after time when we see that God’s presence “… is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (Ephesians 3:20 AMP)

 Enjoy the fruit of previous labor to make your temple a welcome place for the presence of God. Continue to cultivate a lifestyle that is a welcome resting place for the Holy Spirit.