In His Word 11-19-12



What do you do when you realize that it could all go on without you and nothing would change? When you think that God could have done what He wanted to do even if you never spoke up?
Do you run from God and end up in the belly of a big fish like Jonah or do you continue on like Gideon and obey God doing what He would want you to do?
I don't know about you but even on the days when I feel like Winnie the Pooh and cry out “Oh Bother” or like Eeyore and say “Why bother”; I know that my striving is but for the day I get to stand in front of my Lord and hear the words “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Nothing else matters in life any more than momentarily being joyful or sorrowful. Not when we compare it to being with Christ.

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.” Psalm 1 1-2

How easy it should be to live in the right way, that is, the way Christ told us to live in Matthew .

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Mathew 28:19-20

We were given a directive straight from the mouth of God and yet we try to do everything else. We live for ourselves, we do our own things we even do as Moses and try to tell God we are not capable or qualified to do what He tells us to do.

...he said to him, “I am the Lord! Tell Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, everything I am telling you.” But Moses argued with the Lord, saying, “I can’t do it! I’m such a clumsy speaker! Why should Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 6:29-30

God could have, and would have worked through Moses straight to Pharaoh but he chickened out thinking he would need to be a more professionally sounding speaker in order to get the job done.
Many would be pastors and teachers do the same. They think God can't use them because they are struggling in school or at the jobs they are working at the moment they are called.
The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Philippians 4:8-14

Without God we really aren't qualified to do anything; with Him we can do all things!

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

It's sort of like having your cake and eating it too, really; we can live the life we enjoy while sharing Jesus with others.
As the Lord has said to the Church at Philadelphia in Revelations, I believe He wants us to know just how involved He wants to be in our lives.

I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me...” Revelations 3:8-9


He knows all things, and sees all things including our hearts; He knows if we are truly 'good and faithful servants' or not. Our job is to keep our focus off of the troubles we encounter each day and to keep our hearts and minds on Jesus and what He has brought us through. When we think on these things we will spill out with the love of God, the joy of our Salvation and the spirit of heaviness will truly be lifted from us. No matter what we suffer, Christ has suffered more, in fact I find it humbling when I am in pain and I realize that what my God suffered for me has been so much more.

Sometimes I wonder what God thinks He is doing with me; I am impatient in the things of this world that I am placed with, in or beside; and I wonder how long I will walk in the wilderness. I find myself asking Him more and more lately “how long?” I have to laugh though, in all humanness I have become the child on a long trip who inevitably will ask her parent “Are we there yet?” I want to wait for the event but the time comes and goes and the roads are so long and boring at times that we want to know how long, how far, and how much more we must endure in life in order to reach the point when we can rejoice and be with Him in satisfactory contentment and joy. Just as the child waiting to see the relatives or the land of delight; we too are impatient for the days when we are with Him.

When we are in good times, we don't really see the need to draw near, but as you go into the Holiday season lets try to keep our eyes on Jesus and the job He has given us; lets remember its not about being selfish and not wanting to celebrate something using the excuses of the world, that its too commercialized and that it's 'all about me'; lets make it all about Him no matter what they say. Let's achieve the point of our existence while the shoppers re crying for more. Let's remember that our lives are all about Jesus, sharing His love, giving people hope in Him. Let's work on the job He has given us and share His story with those around us while they have their eyes open. He will open the doors for us to share, we just need to trust that He will then open our mouths to speak and know that He is in control.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to share Your story this week. Open the doors and open our mouths to bring forth the Words You would speak through us. In Jesus' name, amen.

Suggested reading: Psalm 50 1-23, Philippians 4:1-23, Mathew 28, Psalm 1:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 3:1-18