Shalom,


The devotion "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers used 2 Corinthians 5:9. I like verses 8-9 in the New Living Translation:


8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please Him.


It goes on to say this:


We make it our aim. . . .” It requires a conscious decision and effort to keep our primary goal constantly in front of us. It means holding ourselves to the highest priority year in and year out; not making our first priority to win souls, or to establish churches, or to have revivals, but seeking only “to be well pleasing to Him.” It is not a lack of spiritual experience that leads to failure, but a lack of working to keep our eyes focused and on the right goal. At least once a week examine yourself before God to see if your life is measuring up to the standard He has for you. Paul was like a musician who gives no thought to audience approval, if he can only catch a look of approval from his Conductor. 



We KNOW that as born again believers (having Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Savior), we WILL be immediately in the presence of the Lord when our spirit/soul combination leave our physical bodies. While we are here on this earth we have a specific, God-appointed, Holy Spirit-anointed, job to do! We should never be as concerned with how our ministry looks to others as with obeying the leading of the One Who has called us and set us apart! Follow His leading every day and you will have no problem fulfilling your own individual calling! There is a reason that He instructed us not to compare ourselves with each other (2 Corinthians 10:12)! No else has YOUR specific calling! Your ministry is SUPPOSED to look different than mine! We will each reach different people! Dare to be exactly who HE made YOU to be! Rewards abound for that! Amen! Here is Hillsong Worship with "Do What You Say". You can click through to You Tube for the lyrics under "see more":

Shalom in Him!