Good morning my fellow workers in his vine yard...

Allow me to wish you all a happy new month. And my prayer is that God who brought us into this month of September would see us through.

I just felt urge in sharing a word with you all, that's why I opend this thread.

Today's topic is Serve With All Your Power.

And the bible passage we would be looking at is Genesis 31:1-12.

[b] Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying, "Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father." 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban's attitude toward him was not what it had been.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, "I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I've worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8 If he said, 'The speckled ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, 'The streaked ones will be your wages,' then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken away your father's livestock and has given them to me.

10 "In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I answered, 'Here I am.' 12 And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.[/b]

As we enter this ember month, may it be a time of amazing testimonies for you.

This is an amazing testimony we must learn from Jacob. Jacob said, "And you know I have served your father" Verse 6.

Mark the word, "And you know". I.e this truth is not hidden that I have served your father with all my might.

You must also note that...despite all the unfavorable conditions given to Jacob, he did not compromise his integrity. He still put in his best.

I emphasized on this highly priced quality about Jacob, therefore I charge all christians on Nairaland and in the world at large...serve with all your might. Put in your best, irrespective of weather you're appreciated or not. The rule or rather God's rule is to give your best.

Why most of our christian brethren fail in their endeavors, is that most of them feel they are not adequately compensated. Most of them or rather majority of they prefer cash and other worldly goodies than rendering good services in the house of God.

In our passage today, Jacob proved to his in law and his wives that he had a good moral up bringing...one which lacks in so many Nigerian christians.

What makes one a child of God is not the name, but the acts.

In our world today, the spirit with which many believers serve their bosses and display at their place of work, is appalling (in the sense that they who are believers still exhibit the fruits of the flesh) as mentioned in Galatians 5:19-22.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

They forget the fact that after ones family, the next place one must display his christian up-bringing is his office.

Paul exhorted the brethren to serve their masters as though they were christ

Ephesians 6:7  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

The ultimate question here is...can people as well as your conscience vouch that you serve with all your might?

If God must rise on your behalf, you must check your attitude here. Laban changed Jacob's wages ten times, yet it didn't change the quality of service Jacob rendered even once.

I also want you to note that inasmuch as Jacob was striving hard to win the heart of Laban's daughters, we also as christians must strive hard to ensure that we exhibit that christ like nature so that the world may see christ in us and learn to love him too.

Now God saw that Laban was cheating Jacob I mean it was very obvious, so God gave him and idea to apply without supporting stealing or cheating. What happened in that passage was pure wisdom applied by Jacob which of course was given to him by God. So if you ask me, I'd say it wasn't deceit.


Verse 12  And he said, 'Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you.


Now (to my fellow christians)what is the testimony of your lifestyle outside the church? Do people see and know you as one that puts in his best in anything you're given to do? Can they vouch for your integrity?

Below are prayer points.

1. O lord help me put my best in whatever I do...

2. Father visit me with favour in my work place.

3. Any power set to deny me what is mine, lord give me and idea to apply without stealing like you did to Jacob in Jesus name.

God bless you

Hmm that wonderful Genesis story about genetics. "How to breed goats by setting up sticks before them".