WHO DONE IT?
A farmer works from dawn to dusk, and at the close of his day, he stands at the end of his field, looks at the meticulously ploughed furrows and says with pride “Look what I did!”
A truly committed believer works from dawn to dusk, and at the close of his day, he sits silently in a chair looking over his “field”, and says, “Wow! Who did that?”
The difference is the source of our accomplishments. A farmer’s labor is the result of the sum total of his commitment plus his ability. A believer’s is the result of the sum total of his commitment plus God’s ability. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Php 4:13)
Most Christians spend a lifetime either striving to serve the Lord or regretting that they don’t. They want to be effective and accomplish something significant for the Master, but they continually find themselves falling short because they think they lack the ability. Of course, it is usually fleshly distractions that demean their work, but if you challenge them about their lack of production, they will just claim inadequacy and say, “I just can’t do it;” IE, they haven’t even reached the first part of the formula, commitment!
On the other hand, there are those who really do love the Lord and appear to be making an honest effort. They are at worship and small group almost every week, and they volunteer. But, they never seem to “cut loose” and soar. They are earth-bound and see themselves as weak and less gifted. They want to do more for the Lord, but it just doesn’t seem to be in them.
I think of these things, and I am drawn again to Paul’s confession. It never was Paul because Paul could never have been enough. Yes, the commitment was there, and the effort was there, but the results far exceeded his abilities. He could never take the credit because he could never have done it in the first place. In the end, he could only boast that he had fought hard and finished. The production was a result of Christ’s strength, not his. In other words, he had lived beyond his own capability.
How sad! The majority never reach the commitment stage. Most of the remainder never get above the frustration of not living up to their own abilities. Yet, even if they did, it wouldn’t be enough! God expects us to far exceed that, else we would receive the credit and not Him. We are to live beyond our own capability.
I can do “all things.” Through my own commitment and ability? No, “through Christ” Who “lives in me.”
A truly committed believer works from dawn to dusk, and at the close of his day, he sits silently in a chair looking over his “field”, and says, “Wow! Who did that?”
The difference is the source of our accomplishments. A farmer’s labor is the result of the sum total of his commitment plus his ability. A believer’s is the result of the sum total of his commitment plus God’s ability. Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Php 4:13)
Most Christians spend a lifetime either striving to serve the Lord or regretting that they don’t. They want to be effective and accomplish something significant for the Master, but they continually find themselves falling short because they think they lack the ability. Of course, it is usually fleshly distractions that demean their work, but if you challenge them about their lack of production, they will just claim inadequacy and say, “I just can’t do it;” IE, they haven’t even reached the first part of the formula, commitment!
On the other hand, there are those who really do love the Lord and appear to be making an honest effort. They are at worship and small group almost every week, and they volunteer. But, they never seem to “cut loose” and soar. They are earth-bound and see themselves as weak and less gifted. They want to do more for the Lord, but it just doesn’t seem to be in them.
I think of these things, and I am drawn again to Paul’s confession. It never was Paul because Paul could never have been enough. Yes, the commitment was there, and the effort was there, but the results far exceeded his abilities. He could never take the credit because he could never have done it in the first place. In the end, he could only boast that he had fought hard and finished. The production was a result of Christ’s strength, not his. In other words, he had lived beyond his own capability.
How sad! The majority never reach the commitment stage. Most of the remainder never get above the frustration of not living up to their own abilities. Yet, even if they did, it wouldn’t be enough! God expects us to far exceed that, else we would receive the credit and not Him. We are to live beyond our own capability.
I can do “all things.” Through my own commitment and ability? No, “through Christ” Who “lives in me.”
2 Comments:
Again, I have the privelege of putting my concordance to use.
Something I found relevant to this in the Gospel's is Peter's big "oops" moment when he compares Moses, Elijah and Jesus as being equals (Matt 17:4, Mark 9:5, Luke 9:33). All three of those gospels tell of a cloud that immediately "overshadowed them," and a voice (God's voice) saying "This is my beloved Son" (Matt. 17:5, Mark 9:6, Luke:34).
The point that it clear to me from this event is, "Jesus, and only Jesus, gets top billing. He is the (singular!) Son of God, and has no peers!"
If Moses couldn't even claim credit for his accomplishments, and is overshadowed by Jesus, then we are even more so.
Dear Jesus: Thank you for EVERYTHING!!!
When am I going to just "cut loose" and sore like I know I can by just letting go. I try to do things out of my own strength because of a fear of failure. Often I see faith as crossing an invisible bridge spanning a deep canyon. Instead of running across with sure faith, I find myself inching one foot in front of the other to make sure something is there to stand on. Paul ran in such a way as to win the race, not just finish, and this Paul needs to do the same. Praise God!
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