What is that good and helpful act that you know you ought to do? That
open door opportunity to assist your neighbor or bless your brethren; you desire it but lack the energy.
What is that desire to help that you have? keep it in mind.
Last week I was out for my Think Walk. As I strolled through Sioux Falls on the
Bike Trail, my mind turned to consider some verses about Christ is. I was reminded of
Mark 7:37,
“He has done all things well.”
For the first time my attention was not on the point of him doing “things well“. Instead I was captivated by the word “all“: He did all things well.
Which brought to mind the question: How did Jesus do “all things well”?
Earlier in Mark we find that in his Baptism he was anointed by the Spirit, and so
empowered by the Spirit. Luke’s account makes this all the clearer (4: 1, 14),
namely that his success in doing “all things well” was not his divinity overriding
his humanity but his humanity being in constant dependence upon the Spirit of
God in “all things”. It was by the Spirit’s power that Jesus the Messiah did “all
things well.”
Are you striving to be like Jesus?
A moment ago I asked you about what opportunities you have right now to do good, yet an opportunity that you feel you do not have energy for. Before we dive back there let us consider how deeply we need the Spirit.
Consider:
Can you be rightly devoted to God in any way apart from the power of the Spirit?
- In love for Christ
- hatred for sin
- kindness to brethren
- productivity as a citizen
- service to neighbor
In all of this we must imitate the man Jesus, and prayerfully seek the Spirit’s power. We need to understand ourselves and the work we do from Paul’s view: “I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. (Col. 1:29)
So then, whatever kind or beneficial act God has brought to your mind in time past cannot be neglected. Remember James 4:17,
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
But how is it to be done when it seems the calendar is filled to the brim. Every day ends with an exhausted collapse into bed. Yet, let us be careful, before expressing exhaustion or a busy week as an excuse; before delaying that act of service until “life slows down”, pray.
Regarding that blessing that God wants you to be to another, that sister in Christ who needs you, have you prayed for strengthening grace? Remember what we heard from James, and moreover, remember how our Lord never turned from such an opportunity. Furthermore, he did not give partial effort but did “all things well“.
Are you a disciple and student of Jesus? Then you are to follow his example of Spirit dependence in all things.
You feel weak (because you are), and you view yourself as inadequate (right again). But before that becomes an excuse, have you asked for strength so that you might match Jesus’ energy.
Jesus did all things well, and so should we. Jesus never neglected the opportunity to do good, neither should we. May we desperately depend on the Spirit to train us to love and do all righteousness.
Don’t let the weight of the opportunity push you away but instead push you to prayer.
…then get started, having faith that “his energy…powerfully works within me” (Col. 1:29), and knowing that you were saved by God for such a purpose as this: “Those [he saved] to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Rom 8:29)
Make that phone call…have that family over…help that sister…love that challenging friend…have the hard conversation…speak truth in love…babysit for that single mom.
The Reforming Raker 