What is Kingdom work? To put it simply, it’s partnering with God in what He is doing in the world. It’s the stuff that truly matters – FOREVER. And really, it’s the stuff Jesus did! Everything Jesus did was Kingdom work. Every encounter, every conversation, every step taken was his partnership with God to fulfill God’s good plans for the kingdom here on Earth.
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” When we genuinely pray that, we’re essentially asking, “God, what would You want done here?” And then we become willing to be the ones who do it.
Let that be your heart today – let that be your intention. God whatever it is you want done here today, I’m willing to do it.
Could we just keep it that simple?
As you’re dealing with a difficult daughter or a disgruntled son – God, what do you want done here? I’m willing to do it. With that perspective, it’s much easier to see it’s really not about the messy bedroom, the skipped assignment or the refusal to wake up on time. Isn’t it so much more about them knowing they’re loved, they’re capable, they’re set apart, they’re worthy, their design is perfect and the plans for their life are good?!!!! And if that’s what God wants to be spoken today, will you be the one willing to say it?
As you’re dealing with that difficult person, that frustrating situation, that problem that just won’t go away – God, what do you want done here? I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to be faithful with little until there is more. I’m willing to see them through your eyes and remember how very much you love them. I’m willing to forgive. I’m willing to show love. I’m willing to serve. I’m willing to speak truth. I’m willing to pray. I’m willing to encourage. I’m willing to do whatever You put in front of me.
Because this is Kingdom work. It’s the work Jesus did here on earth and asks us to continue. We get to partner with Jesus. We get to be His hands. His feet. His voice. His love.
Sometimes Kingdom work looks BIG and miraculous. Sometimes it looks incredibly ordinary.
Sometimes it’s praying for someone who is hurting. Sometimes its speaking someone’s name who feels forgotten. Sometimes it’s feeding somebody who is hungry. Sometimes it’s encouraging a discouraged friend.
You may not see the eternal significance of the moment. But God does.
Here’s the thing – you may be sitting in an eternally significant moment today and not even realize it. You have no idea what someone else is struggling with. You have no idea the impact of a small act of kindness. You don’t currently see how God placed you precisely in the position to have an encounter for his kingdom work and this side of Heaven, you may not know the difference your willingness makes – BUT IT MATTERS!
Yesterday, we hosted our first stop on the BIG Life ROAM Tour. OH WHAT JOY to get to meet these beautiful women in person, some who have been listening for YEARS.
First, we packed out 100 food boxes to be distrusted to families in need in the community. Then we went to downtown Atlanta to serve with an organization called Safehouse. Safehouse provides dinner to about 200 people every evening, but they don’t have lunch. YESTERDAY, THEY HAD LUNCH.
Our BIG Life girls prepared and served a meal for the homeless community that had gathered for a meal they often miss. But it wasn’t just food – it was dignity. It was a genuine desire to connect, to encourage, to love. It was kingdom work. There were many conversations I’m not aware of. Many eternally significant moments I don’t know about. BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE ONES I DO KNOW ABOUT.
David accepted Jesus yesterday.
Daniel took his first step in freedom yesterday.
And then there was JJ. JJ was so overwhelmed, so discouraged and so hopeless had decided yesterday was going to be his final day on earth. He sat down at the table with absolutely nothing left to give. Our girls served him lunch and then sat down with him. They were not his solution. They were not able to fix his problems. But they carried the fixer. They offered Jesus. This man’s life was literally saved in the process of giving him a chili dog.
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
And really that’s what happened – a few of God’s masterpieces encountered one of his broken masterpieces yesterday, and they did the good things he had planned so long ago. They pointed JJ in the direction of the maker who can put the pieces back together again. The one who can take the broken pieces of his life and use it all for good.
AND WE GOT TO BE PART OF THAT?!!!! WHAT?!!!!
Kingdom work – the good things God has planned for us to do – the things Jesus did!
You’re invited. You’re wanted. There’s work for you to do here, Sis. KINGDOM WORK. Eternally significant stuff.
Let’s look at one of Jesus’ miracles to see how he did it and how he invites us to be part of it. It’s one of my favorite miracles, the feeding of the 5,000.
So, here’s the situation, 5,000 men plus the women and children had gathered in a remote area to hear Jesus teach. They had been there all day long and that evening Jesus’ friends point out that all these people needed to leave because they were going to be very hungry and there was nothing to feed them in this remote area. But Jesus said in Matthew 14:16, “That isn’t necessary – you feed them.”
The friends reply with the obvious – Jesus, there’s no way! How could they possibly feed all these people? They have only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. For a crowd of 5,000 men plus the women and children? That’s absurd. That’s ridiculous. That’s IMPOSSIBLE.
But you know how the story ends – right? You know the miracle. You’ve heard it before. Jesus takes what was wayyyyyyy too little and he makes it more than enough. He multiplies and multiplies, and just keeps multiplying and the food never ran out. Yay JESUS!!!!!!!!
But I want you to notice something. Jesus invited his friends to participate in the miracle. He didn’t need them, but he wanted them. He wanted them to be part of the miraculous. He wanted them to have a hand in the impossible. He wanted them to get to experience God’s power in provision. He wanted them to know what it felt like to give what little they had and watch God make it more than enough.
It was Jesus’ friends, the disciples who divided the crowd of thousands into small groups and had them sit down. It was the disciples who spoke in faith to each hungry person that food was coming, knowing darn good and well there wasn’t enough food. It was the disciples who kept coming back to Jesus for the next handful of food to distribute to the people, seeing somehow there was still more food for that group, then the next and the next and the next.
Imagine for a second being these friends of Jesus, these disciples. Imagine being in the middle of this miracle. Seeing it literally unfold. They had counted those little loaves of bread that were more like crackers – and those 2 fish – they were more like little sardines. This was actually the lunch of a boy in the crowd. Yet, the disciples are watching it become more and more and more. Jesus just kept supplying and supplying and supplying.
The food never ran out. In fact, Matthew 14:20 says, “They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up 12 baskets of left-overs.”
JESUS DID THAT! He took what there was and he made it more than enough. Now – how do we apply this in our lives?
First, stop disqualifying yourself because what you have doesn’t seem like enough.
The disciples looked at the need and looked at what they had and immediately concluded, “There is no way.” Five loaves. Two fish. Thousands of hungry people. But they were measuring what they had against what needed to be done.
And that’s where we get stuck too. I don’t have enough experience. I’m not outgoing enough. I don’t have enough money. I don’t have enough time. I’m not qualified. I’m not good at talking to people. What difference could I possibly make?
Sis, you’re looking at the wrong thing. The question isn’t, “Do I have enough?” The question is, “Am I willing to give God what I do have?”
Jesus saw this as a setup for a miracle! You can have that same perspective! Oh, this looks impossible and I’m so NOT equipped for this – seems like a perfect place for God to do what only he can do!!!!!!! Here I am, Lord – I’m willing do to whatever you are doing! I want to be part of this!!!!!!!!!
Here’s the thing – when you put what you have into the hands of Jesus, He gets to decide what it becomes.
That little boy with the lunch didn’t have enough to feed a crowd. He didn’t need to. He simply had something Jesus could use.
And maybe that’s all Kingdom work is today. You don’t need to have it all together – you don’t need to know what to do or what to say – you just need to show up believing JESUS DOES!!!!!!!!!!!
Bring what you have. And put it in the hands of Jesus. You don’t have to make it enough. That’s His job.
The disciples didn’t multiply the bread. Jesus did. The disciples didn’t perform the miracle. Jesus did. But they got to participate. They got to carry the baskets. They got to hand out what Jesus provided. They got to look into the faces of hungry people and say, “Here you go.”
They got to be part of the miracle.
And that’s what I want you to understand about Kingdom work. God doesn’t need you to accomplish His purposes. He wants you to participate in them. What an incredible privilege!
The God who could do it all Himself chooses to invite us into the story. He lets us carry the basket. He lets us serve the meal. He lets us pray the prayer. He lets us make the phone call. He lets us sit beside the hurting person. He lets us encourage. He lets us speak the name of Jesus. He lets us give what we have.
And then He does what only HE can do.
That’s Kingdom work.
Are you willing to really ask, “God, what do You want done here?” And then whatever He puts in front of you—do it.
You may think it’s so small and insignificant. Like your smile, your hello, your encouragement, your time wouldn’t possibly make a different – BUT Jesus may see the beginning of a miracle.
There will be Kingdom work you do that you won’t see the results of this side of Heaven. You may never know who was changed because you stopped and listened. You may never know how your kindness affected someone. You may never know what your prayer set into motion. You may never know what your obedience opened up. We may never know what a chili dog did for some of the people we served yesterday.
But God knows. And it matters.
So today, don’t worry about whether you have enough. You have something. Give it to Jesus. And then watch what He does with it.
Sis, you are invited. There is Kingdom work waiting for you today.
So let’s pray the prayer Jesus taught us: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” And then let’s live like we mean it.
God, what do You want done here? I’m willing. Use what I have. I’ll carry the basket.
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