“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.'” John 4:34
I was reading about courage this morning: Courage being the act of doing what you are afraid to do.
It occurred to me that I most often hear people (including myself) express fear about doing God’s work. People aren’t as hesitant to go back to school, move to a new state for work, go skydiving, or start a new business as they are to begin a new ministry, teach Sunday school, sing on the praise team, or speak from the pulpit. Forget moving to another country to minister in missions…that is almost incomprehensible.
Why in the world are we more afraid to do the work of the One who is our Provider than to do ordinary things? Why are we more willing to commit to the PTA than to helping in the nursery at church just once a quarter?
Is it possible that we are feeding on the wrong things? Jesus’ food was to do the will of the One who sent Him, and we have been sent by that same God.
When the Lord lays some new work on our heart, here are some helpful things we will need to have been feeding on:
- God has commissioned all of his followers to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 28:19) This is our job.
- God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Ph. 4:19)
- God has already sent pastors and teachers to equip us for the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12) We are ready.
- We’re invited to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16) We are not alone.
- And finally, if we our obedient and choose to give in to God’s leading, trusting that He will take care of our needs, we can be certain He will meet them as He said because Heb. 5:18 reminds us that, “It is impossible for God to lie.”
Karl Bath said, “Courage is fear that has said it’s prayers.” I can’t think of a better way for us to take on our fears.
If the Lord lays a work on our hearts, it’s ok to be afraid. Moses was afraid. Joshua was afraid. Gideon was afraid, too. However, we need to take our fears to God’s throne of grace and receive the help He has waiting there for us.
Don’t we know that the One who created the heavens and the earth, owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and holds this world in His hand…that same One can certainly help us teach a class, preach a sermon, sing a song, minister to the sick, or any other thing He has asked us to do?
He has given us His Word so that we will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:17) If we are feeding on the right things, then we have all we need.
Let’s get to work!
jamie
considering the word 