As
Christians involved in a gospel-centered ministry, we fervently and
compassionately pray for the broken-hearted and lost. That they receive the
gift of saving faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. That they too can rejoice in
the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2).
For that reason, we who were once lost “head out” into our homes, work places, schools, churches, prisons, group and care homes, parks, streets and the ends of the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus to an unlovely, depraved-filled world. We “go” with faith-filled, obeying hearts knowing that we have been commissioned by Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18-20; John 17:18; John 3:16-18). We “pray and trust” that the Holy Spirit will be our Helper of whom Jesus promised whenever we share true hope, hope in Him. (John 14:16, 16:7; Romans 5:1-5) We stammer out words that we pray are words of Life found in God’s Word (Act 5:20).
With
time, we each come to have our own stories of some form of persecution,
rejection, or disconnection from the very people to whom we hope to bring the
Good News. And, we each have our own stories of being dismayed and wearied in
the very ministries to which we have been called by God. When we are
confronted by the question, why any one of us would ever want to do this
heart-breaking -- and often times, emotionally-draining, physically-
challenging, and endangering -- kind of work, we must give this question honest
reflection. For, I believe, God lovingly and graciously uses these times to reveal
our hearts a little more clearly to us (1 Corin. 13:12).
It
is now out of love that I pose this question. A question that I have asked of
me over the years in times of discouragement, weariness, and just plain rebelliousness:
Are we serving in that very moment to that particular person(s) out of guilt or
gratitude? Oooooohhh, how these words cut deep into the wounds when our service
is out of some form of guilt (at least they have for me each time I must give
an honest answer before God).
Beloved,
be encouraged. Know that God already knows the answer and he still loves you. Look
at this as an opportunity to confess before the throne of grace. For if we are
serving in that particular moment out of guilt for some past sin that we hope
to gain forgiveness or favor from God, let us remind ourselves God’s Word:
“For by grace you
have been saved through faith.
And this is not your
own doing;
it is the gift of
God,
not a result of
works,
so that no one may
boast.”
(Ephesians
2:8-9)
Our
deepest need is a Savior who forgives us and intercedes on our behalf to the
Father. We have the blessed assurance of our salvation when we recall to mind
and believe in the finished work of Christ, our Lord and Savior.
On
the other hand, when we find ourselves answering that our service is out of a
heart of gratitude yet still feel
weary or discouraged, we must ask ourselves in whose strength do we go? In
whose plan are we concerned? For whose glory do we desire?
Be
of good cheer! Know that He who created the heavens and the earth is still
exalted and reigns from high. He is our strength and our help in times of
trouble. And, may the words found in Isaiah 40:18-31 be a reminder of the steadfast
promise of our God:
“To whom then will
you compare me,
that I should be like
him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on
high and see: who created these?
He who brings out
their host by number,
calling them all by
name,
by the greatness of
his might, and
because he is strong
in power not one is missing.
Why do you say, O
Jacob, and speak, O Israel,
“My way is hidden
from the Lord, and
my right is
disregarded by my God”?
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 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.”
Along
with our stories of trials and suffering, we each have the absolute joy and
blessing of watching God’s gracious hands work through answered prayers and in
His transforming work in our lives and, Lord willing, in the life of someone we know and love.
Soli
Deo Gloria!
