Countless times I have felt that my efforts fall short of any form of magnificent ability to bring about the best results that could possibly come to pass. No matter how much I study, prepare, plan, organize, save up, enlist, ask for help, cast vision, rest, stay busy, read, pray, disciple, be discipled, (and the list could go on) I find this law at work within me:
My efforts are never really good enough. Never.
They might look good or seem beneficial, however, Scripture teaches that apart from Christ, as John 15:5 states, I can do nothing. Nothing of any significant, lasting, eternal, valuable, meaningful, excellent, God-glorifying worth.
Now, I know that God blesses us with gifts and talents that we are able to function in on a daily basis; however, if we are totally relying on ourselves in a moment for success, our flesh will feed us lies to think that we can rely on ourselves more of the time...and more of the time...until we wind up like the world, and find ourselves trying to do life on our own. Apart from Christ. Apart from His Spirit's power. Apart from God.
So, what can I say to offer hope in the midst of this ever-present condition of the human nature? What can we focus on to know what God desires of us in the parts we play in His glorious plan of redemption and obedience? I think what is best to quote would be Scripture itself.
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." - Proverbs 16:9
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21
"Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it." - Isaiah 46:8-11
I can rejoice in knowing that what God wants accomplished, nothing I can do or NOT do will keep Him from fulfilling His purposes. And, as I trust in Him and rest in Him, I can be even more confident that He will use the obedience we bring Him in love to bring about "everything according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11).
Believer, today I encourage you to trust in the One who enables you to be filled with all wisdom and ability to obey for His honor and pleasure. And when you feel that you are not good enough, or that what you bring to Him is not good enough, remember that He is at work in you to do through you what He desires to take place. Praise Him today...His purpose WILL stand.
#4hisfame.
Meals are not only an essential part of life, but also an enjoyable one. I don't know about you, but a meal prepared by Jesus Christ Himself would have to rank as one of, if not the most, amazing dining experiences. Even if it took place in a field of grass and the only thing on the menu consisted of bread and fish. Here's a quick glance into Chef Jesus' miraculous meal-making.
Again, John writes:
1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (John 6:1-15, ESV, emphasis mine)
I think it is easy to read through this text and write it off as one of those childhood stories you may have heard or one you may have thought about during a Bible study or a Sunday morning sermon. But pausing again to really take in the words, we see some important ingredients which make this meal mandatory for inclusion in God's holy Scriptures.
2:40 a.m. I throw the covers back and quickly orient myself to what's going on. My family has been sick. Stomach bug sick. Vomiting. And other gross things if you catch my drift. Well, at this point, my oldest son was the only one still in need of fully recovering - my wife and middle son were for the most part on their way back to wellness. Nevertheless, I was sleeping on the couch to be in the middle of the house to hear who would need help - the boys in one side and my better half in the other.
So, there it was. The sound of my oldest yelling, "DADDY! DADDY!" Rubbing my eyes, I pull myself off the couch and dart to the guest bathroom, where I see my five-year old son hunched over the toilet. I move behind him to sit on the side of the tub, as I had already done probably six times so far this night, and I rub his back as that horrific sound of his stomach entrails entering the toilet. Poor thing. Helpless. A victim to the sickly condition of his body. Exhausted. Weary. I wipe his mouth, hug him tight, and feel the weight of his body go limp as the utter nature of his fatigue and sleepless state take hold.
I carry him into the living room and make a bed for him on the love seat, tuck him in and kiss him on the forehead. I know it won't be long until he is awakened again for another bathroom run, followed by the cry of "Daddy!" once more.
As he lay there, the Spirit of God pricked my heart and whispered to me as I sat in the darkness of my living room...
