Receive What is Given

There are so many needful things, all demanding our attention. Does God not hear them? Of course He does, still, if we’re going to cast ourselves into the fray, it helps to know if we’re in the right “fray.”

Corrie Ten Boom was a Christian survivor of the Holocaust, Hitler’s “final solution.” She had this to say about working for Jesus:

“Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”

Corrie Ten Boom

You or I may pray, “Bless me in this work I’m doing.” But, if we are in the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing, then we will find ourselves waiting a long time for God’s blessing. It’s not a matter of doing “good things” or even “great things,” rather it is a matter of doing the “right things.” How else can Jesus say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

“To this John [the Baptist] replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven…” (John 3:27) From my walk with Jesus, the only works that will hold up under God’s inspection are those assignments that I received from Him and did under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Receive What is Given

Take a moment and inspect the work you’ve done. Does it withstand our Lord’s scrutiny?

Many of the works for which I’ve been commended are just chaff that will burn up. Many of the accomplishments which I hold dear will not survive the fire of God. Thankfully, there were times when I didn’t hinder Jesus.

There have been times when a garden of peace sprung up from the work Christ gave me to do. Times when I’ve received a phone call from a long forgotten workmate telling me that they finally accepted Jesus as their Savior. These will withstand God’s inspection; they will not burn up.

“A person can receive only what is given to them.” It’s fruitless to frenetically try to create a ministry. Rather, we must walk in the Spirit, then we will receive the assignments which Jesus calls us to. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)

Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

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