All Hands on Deck!

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All hands on deck! That’s been the battle cry around our family and Notgrass History for weeks. We are nearing a printing deadline for a new product. That always means, “Okay, Team, let’s pull together and get this done!”

I love that God gave Christians work to do. He could do everything Himself, but He wants us to be His partners. He doesn’t just tell us to get to work. He works in us.

. . . just as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who is at work in you,
both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13

Even in the Garden of Eden, He gave Adam work to do. Long ago, He planned what He wants us to do in His kingdom.

For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand
so that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10

He wants us to be His ambassadors in the world.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5:20

The wise mama teaches her children how to work as a member of a team. Everyone needs to know how to give help and to receive it. If the God of the Universe is willing to let us be part of His work, we certainly need to learn how to work as a team with one another.

The book of Nehemiah tells a beautiful story about how a team worked together. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem from captivity, they had a mess to clean up and a beloved city to rebuild. The third chapter of Nehemiah tells about those who worked together to rebuild the city wall. In verse after verse, it lists who repaired a section, and who worked next to them, and who worked next to them, and on and on. Many must have appreciated Baruch the son of Zabbai because verse 20 tells us that he repaired another section “zealously.”

At one point in chapter 4, the writer summarizes with these words:

 So we built the wall
and the whole wall was joined together
to half its height,
for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah 4:6

Put together a lot of people willing to cooperate and who have a mind to work and you can get something done. Nehemiah recognized why they were able to finish their job.

When all our enemies heard of it,
and all the nations surrounding us saw it,
they lost their confidence;
for they recognized that this work had been accomplished
with the help of our God.
Nehemiah 6:16

Making your children part of your family “team” is a gift to them. It feels good to know that you are a necessary part of the team, a giver and not just a taker.

. . . and let us consider how to stimulate one another
to love and good deeds… 
Hebrews 10:24

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