Heb. 4:16 | considering the word

“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

“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 (The Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32)

I’ve been teaching my class about God, the Father, and yesterday we talked about the prodigal son. This son took the possessions his father gave him, went his own way, wasted them all to the point of starvation, and found himself wishing he could eat pig food. He suddenly realized that even the servants who worked for his father had it better than he, so he decided to go back home and beg his father for mercy…and for a job.

The scripture says that when he was still a great way off his father saw him. That makes me think his father had been watching for him. His father was just hoping and waiting, day after day, that his son would return. The father was so full of compassion that he ran and hugged and kissed his son.

Not only did he welcome him, but he gave him gifts. He ordered that the best robe and a ring be put on his son. He also gave him new sandals. I don’t know if he had no sandals by this point, or his were just tattered all to pieces, but his father wanted nothing but the best for his son.

Next he ordered a feast–bbq time!! He said, “It’s time to eat and be merry, for my son was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found.” There was music, dancing, and celebration for this son who came home.

It’s the same way when we come back to the Lord. God isn’t just sitting on a throne of Judgment. Hebrews 4:16 says it is a “Throne of Grace, where we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” God is waiting for us, just like that father. God is our Father, waiting for us with grace and mercy.

Not only that, but when we do decide that being with Him is better than starving in sin, there is rejoicing in heaven when we come home! (Luke 15:6-7)

Don’t ever think it’s too late to return to your Father, God. He still loves you. You are still His child. He’s watching for you, waiting. He has good things to bestow upon you. His grace and mercy still available now.

Come home,

jamie