I want to praise God today and share a great revelation from my quiet time this morning. I want you all to know that God hears the cries of His children and answers them in His perfect way and time.
I have been burdened lately and haven't known what to do. As someone who has spent a great deal of time in the Word in the last 18 months, I've seen God do a great work in my life. In this same period, I have seen others struggle and done my best to encourage them. It seems so easy to me that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in the Word of God and through Jesus Christ. It has been my aim to point people to the Word and encourage them to seek the same solutions that I have found by studying and meditating on the truths of Scripture.
But, I can't do the work for anyone. I can't change anyone's thinking, and I can't make them read the Word or believe it. That is between them and God. So at times, I question whether God has really called me to full-time ministry when I can't even seem to help others get on track with their faith lives. I end up feeling like Timothy who must have been mocked because of his youth for Paul to write him and say "let no one despise you for your youth." I've asked God why it is that my words seem to fall on deaf ears at times when I know that I'm right because it isn't my advice, but God's advice. I'm just the vessel.
Ultimately, I conclude that God will use me for His glory how He sees fit. I trust in that enough to continue to encourage when no visible fruit is seen. This morning, God answered my plea for help in a big way.
I turned to Psalm 1 which is one of my favorites. Basically it says that the one who delights in the Lord and meditates on His law is blessed. It then relates that person to a tree planted by a stream that bears fruit in its season, has leaves that never wither, and is successful in everything he seeks to accomplish.
God really spoke to me about one's season in life. What if I have been expecting fruit out of season? What if I have erroneously believed that I was in a different season of life than I really am? Could that produce an unnecessary burden? As only God can do, the very next passage I opened to (which to me was random) was 2 Timothy 4. The first thing I read was "preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season"
It seems interesting that one who prepares for the harvest should be ready for a harvest in the middle of winter. But isn't that exactly what God is telling us from this passage? Preach the Word. Be ready in and out of season. Do we know when the harvest will happen? Do we know when the Word will fall on good soil? That's up to God isn't it? But, regardless, be ready! God told me to be ready this morning. Maybe it isn't my season to harvest or to see the fruit that I desire to see, but be ready and preach the Word. That much is clear.
As I continued meditating on this idea, I turned to Ecclessiastes chapter 3. There is a time for everything. The words in verse 11 hit me hard. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." In its time. Not one moment earlier or later. Jesus spoke this way a lot. The hour will come for the Son of Man to be lifted up. The hour is now here. The writers of the Bible made many comments to this effect as well. The Day is coming and is now here... God's timing is perfect, and He will make everything beautiful in its time, including the fruit that we seek to bear as Christians.
So what season am I in? I believe God has told me to wait. As we sang yesterday at chapel, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases his strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
What season are you in? Is it one of harvest? Is it one of waiting? Is it one of action?
May God bless us with an understanding of the season we are in and give us the strength to joyfully walk in it. Amen!
I have been burdened lately and haven't known what to do. As someone who has spent a great deal of time in the Word in the last 18 months, I've seen God do a great work in my life. In this same period, I have seen others struggle and done my best to encourage them. It seems so easy to me that the answers to all of life's problems can be found in the Word of God and through Jesus Christ. It has been my aim to point people to the Word and encourage them to seek the same solutions that I have found by studying and meditating on the truths of Scripture.
But, I can't do the work for anyone. I can't change anyone's thinking, and I can't make them read the Word or believe it. That is between them and God. So at times, I question whether God has really called me to full-time ministry when I can't even seem to help others get on track with their faith lives. I end up feeling like Timothy who must have been mocked because of his youth for Paul to write him and say "let no one despise you for your youth." I've asked God why it is that my words seem to fall on deaf ears at times when I know that I'm right because it isn't my advice, but God's advice. I'm just the vessel.
Ultimately, I conclude that God will use me for His glory how He sees fit. I trust in that enough to continue to encourage when no visible fruit is seen. This morning, God answered my plea for help in a big way.
I turned to Psalm 1 which is one of my favorites. Basically it says that the one who delights in the Lord and meditates on His law is blessed. It then relates that person to a tree planted by a stream that bears fruit in its season, has leaves that never wither, and is successful in everything he seeks to accomplish.
God really spoke to me about one's season in life. What if I have been expecting fruit out of season? What if I have erroneously believed that I was in a different season of life than I really am? Could that produce an unnecessary burden? As only God can do, the very next passage I opened to (which to me was random) was 2 Timothy 4. The first thing I read was "preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season"
It seems interesting that one who prepares for the harvest should be ready for a harvest in the middle of winter. But isn't that exactly what God is telling us from this passage? Preach the Word. Be ready in and out of season. Do we know when the harvest will happen? Do we know when the Word will fall on good soil? That's up to God isn't it? But, regardless, be ready! God told me to be ready this morning. Maybe it isn't my season to harvest or to see the fruit that I desire to see, but be ready and preach the Word. That much is clear.
As I continued meditating on this idea, I turned to Ecclessiastes chapter 3. There is a time for everything. The words in verse 11 hit me hard. "He has made everything beautiful in its time." In its time. Not one moment earlier or later. Jesus spoke this way a lot. The hour will come for the Son of Man to be lifted up. The hour is now here. The writers of the Bible made many comments to this effect as well. The Day is coming and is now here... God's timing is perfect, and He will make everything beautiful in its time, including the fruit that we seek to bear as Christians.
So what season am I in? I believe God has told me to wait. As we sang yesterday at chapel, strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord!
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases his strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31
What season are you in? Is it one of harvest? Is it one of waiting? Is it one of action?
May God bless us with an understanding of the season we are in and give us the strength to joyfully walk in it. Amen!
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