Christ Is All

January 4

We desire recognition for our labor—for the work that we do to sustain our families, and we expect to see our career goals advanced as we invest ourselves toward the professional and financial ends we have set for ourselves. We desire to be effective for the Kingdom of Christ and His purposes as we serve to reach men with His truth.

We aspire to the time when nations lay down not only their weapons of warfare but also their animus toward those who are of other kindred and tribes so that the proverbial “swords will be beaten into plowshares,” Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3, and “nations shall no longer train for war.”

Yet we know that in an ultimate sense, we can do nothing and be nothing apart from His hand of blessing upon our endeavors. We understand that it is His good pleasure to allow us to attain recognition for our labors, both in the natural and in the spiritual realms and that apart from the embrace of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) by all men, there can be no lasting peace among men.

Jesus wants us to understand that He is the ultimate Source of all we achieve. He stated that reality very clearly in John 15:5 when He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; without Me, you can do nothing.” Our, efforts to “train up our children in the way they should go,” Proverbs 22:6, to see the advancement of our spiritual and career goals, II Timothy 2:15, our endeavors for world peace—all are dependent upon having the Lord Jesus in our hearts for their ultimate success.

The prophet in Isaiah 26:12 says, “Lord, You establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished, You have done for us.” The veracity of this assertion is absolute and its import is weighty. Isaiah addresses the matter of the environment in which we carry out our endeavors—it must be one of peace if we are to ultimately succeed.

We will be able to accomplish little in an atmosphere of contention and strife. War-torn areas are not noted as springs of great invention or endeavor. Peace produces great gain. Yet beyond an environment in which our labor may thrive is the reality that it is the Lord who gives the increase.

In every goal we set for ourselves, whether personal or professional or international or eternal, He who will not share His glory with another, Isaiah 42:8, affirms that it is indeed HE who enables us to accomplish any worthwhile goal. It is through Him that any endeavor has abiding, worthwhile, temporal or eternal success.

It is Jesus who has allowed the work of our hands to prosper, Deuteronomy 30:9 and Jesus who has given us the opportunity to rule and reign with Him eternally, II Timothy 2:12, Revelation 20:4. No matter who we are or what we accomplish, ultimately it is “Christ who is all and Christ who is in all,” Colossians 3:11.