Involvement

Involvement

“make you perfect in every good work to do His will, doing in you that which is well-pleasing before Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom [is] the glory through the ages of the ages! Amen”
Hebrews 13:21

Our perfection (completion) comes to us through the “good works” inspired by His Spirit within us. It is inevitable that the working out of His Will in us will produce growth in Him. In our participation in His grace and mercy to others, we also develop these attitudes and virtues.

As we walk alongside the addict, the wayward, as we see the struggles of others, we are exposed to His heart and the wonder of His wisdom. In seeing Him answer the perplexing problems of others, we become hopeful for our own situations. In feeding others, we ourselves are fed with the “bread of heaven”.

“Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered”
Proverbs 11:25

Discipleship brings involvement in His Will. There is no better school than walking the path of reality. Many follow Him from afar, enjoying His words, but fearful and timid of the experiential truth of His works through us.

“perfect you in every good work”

In the crucible of doing, we discover our weaknesses and the wonder of His supply. Without practical involvement, we remain in the realm of an untested and unproven faith. A faith that has not encountered its own need for more of Him in ministering to others is a faith that has been delegated to the theoretical.

When dealing with the terrible possession of a man’s son, the disciples enquired of Jesus as to why they could not see his deliverance. Jesus simply replied:

“Because of your unbelief”
Matthew 17:20

It is easy to shy away from such situations, but the true disciple welcomes them even with admonitions of the Lord. We see the joy of God as the disciples of Christ become apostolic representations of the Kingdom of God in the practical circumstances of life.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The one who declared such things also showed the verity of his faith in Christ through his discovery of God’s rich provisions.

“The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.”
2 Corinthians 12:12

It is imperative that we see His desire to bring us through our weaknesses into the power of His might by our involvement. It is not by evading the needs of others but rather in the trial of those desperate needs that we find His strength!

Our involvement in the ministrations of His love for others is the school of Christ to instruct us in His provisions and the corresponding dependency and confidence. By doing we grow into an ever-increasing ability to reach and touch others.

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their afflictions, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
James 1:27

Paul’s life of abandonment and trust in Christ brought him to the adventure and joy of the will of God in every situation.

“In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need”
Philippians 4:12

In every circumstance, he was learning the secret! What was that secret?

“I have strength for all things in Christ
the One strengthening me”
Philippians 4:13

May the God of all patience, longsuffering, and goodness lead us from our fears and insufficiencies into the dependency upon Him who cannot fail!

Please listen to this Podcast: Love’s Debt

In our touching His love we feel His outreach to the world around us.

BT