Submitted To Serve
“They that wait upon
the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31
The early church was
a collection of ordinary men and women until they surrendered to the power of
the Spirit. They believed in prayer,
in holiness, and felt a deep need to rely upon God for everything. Their life wasn’t characterized by empty
traditions or religious ritual, but was grounded in a passion for souls and a
hunger for God. They understood that
resting in God’s sufficiency required a pouring out of their self-
sufficiency. They were a humble and
submitted people.
They realized they
could do nothing without His help, and so should we. Oh, sure, we can get a job, buy a house, take
a trip, and get a degree without Him, but we can’t be like Him without His
help. We can’t live or talk or walk like
God without His help. We will never be
more powerful than that on which we rely.
If we rely on ourselves, we can only be as strong as ourselves (Isaiah
40:31). If we’re impressed with
ourselves, we probably won’t be impressed with others. Realizing we are a channel, and not the
source, makes all the difference in the world.
When we begin to live predictable lives, we’ve probably stopped
listening, growing, and learning. Joshua
would learn that God’s blessing on his life at Jericho didn’t automatically mean he could
make any decisions in the future and expect God to intervene and help. The first century church didn’t just
acknowledge openly the source of their strength, they practiced it and they
understood their purpose for living.
When Shackleton, the
great explorer, was planning what proved to be his last expedition to the
Arctic Sea, an interesting incident is said to have occurred. Shackleton was seated in an office in London,
speaking to a friend about his forthcoming expedition. The friend said, “I am surprised at the
publicity you are giving to your new venture.
It is rather unlike you.” And
Shackleton replied, “I have a purpose in doing so. I want my colleague, Mr. Wild, to hear about
my plans. He buried himself in the heart
of Africa, and has left no address, but I thought that if I would broadcast the
news that I was going it might filter through into the very center of Africa,
and if Wild knows I am going, he will come”…They both turned and standing in
the doorway was Mr. Wild.
It was a dramatic
moment as Wild and Shackleton shook hands - the handshake of loyalty. “I
heard you were going,” said Wild: “The news found its way into the heart of
Africa, and when I knew, I dropped my gun, picked up a bit of baggage, and made
straight for home, and here I am. What
are your orders?” Would you do that for
Jesus Christ?
It was Jesus who
said, “I am not to be ministered to, but to minister.” It’s one thing to know who you are; it’s
another thing to be what you’re supposed to be.
In the final analysis, all true authority is sourced in service. The authority you possess in your home isn’t
rooted in how loud you speak, but in how well you served (Luke 22:26). Children don’t honor their parents because
they rule with a rod, but their love for you will be determined by how well you
served them in the little things you’ve done.
I love the Lord for who He is as well as what He’s done. Being convinced of my eternal purpose and
destiny produced in me a sense of personal rest and renewal (II Corinthians
4:16-18). God’s ultimate goal for you
and me is that we be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). From the beginning of time, that has been His
commitment and, to my knowledge, He has never surrendered His original intent
to make us like Himself.
The early church
modeled for us their utter dependence upon God’s Spirit for everything. They made Him their all in all. We should do the same.
Terry Risser
Reflections
1) How do you find strength in
surrender?
2) Express your dependence on
Him today.
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright 2014- Terry Risser
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