“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:32-35 (NIV)
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey” the old hymn goes. While trust in our Lord Jesus is essential, it must - most assuredly - be accompanied by our obedience to His revealed will. Our obedience to His Word serves as proof of our genuine faith in Him. As James tells us in James 1:22 (NIV): “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” We must respond to the Word – our obedience is indicative to our belief in it. We will seek to do what we know and believe to be true and for our best interest, Amen? Further, God never intended for us to remain the same. He is in the process of conforming us into the image of sweet Jesus.
God has plans for each life walking this dusty earth and we do not want to miss His best for our lives by going our own ways – seeking to pander and please the flesh in lieu of the Lord. God desires for us to be doers of His Word and not hearers only. This is because He knows better than we know what is ultimately for our good – even if it is unutterably difficult. The Prophet Jeremiah states in Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Little faith leads to the entry of heaven but little faith will never do mighty exploits for the Kingdom which we are all called to do. Further, God is never confined by our limited understanding or resources. And neither can we do anything of eternal value apart from the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit residing within every believer. The Holy Spirit convicts, convinces us of all Truth, comforts us, confirms we are children of God, and empowers and equips us for His mighty works. The Spirit reminds us to Whom we belong.
The Christian life is impossible for us to live in our own fleshly strength (which is actually no strength at all). True repentance states: “I can’t”; but true faith in Jesus says, “Christ can”. His indwelling power enables us to walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel…just as Jesus did. Our inept limited resources in exchange for His all powerful ones…no brainer!
Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17 (NIV)