“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NLT)
Would you think it’s safe to say that God is a multi-tasker? How do you spell UNDERSTATEMENT! In any given second the Lord listens to the prayers of millions of saints while commanding the planets, the insects, and animals on every inch of our tiny planet. But here’s the really miraculous part of this whole issue: He’s working in your life and mine in ways we can’t see or even comprehend if He explained it.
John Piper gives us insight when he writes: “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” Can we possibly have the audacity to say or even think that the Lord has forgotten us or worse, never knew us nor given us a thought. If you’re a new mom or dad is there literally a second that new bundle of joy isn’t on your mind, demanding your attention, occupying your energy? And yes, of course, some of those moments are more joyful than others, but the point is, you’re not about to forget for one second that you’re a parent and that little life is dependent upon you.
Our Heavenly Father loves each of us, lost and found, as though we were His only child. His attention is riveted on us as though He had nothing else to do. Even as I type these words the Lord is filling my mind with thoughts, ideas, and ways to convey the message He’s given me. He’s not off attending more important things – I am – YOU ARE – His agenda!
Our selfishness and self-centeredness demand things of God He will not give us, but that doesn’t negate in any way His willingness to guide, guard, love, equip, and help us find intimacy with Him. Our sin is the key issue that separates us, deafens our spiritual ears, and overshadows our spiritual eyes. Because we’re blind and deaf to the Lord’s presence isn’t His fault. He’s done everything possible to enable us to be aware, not only of who He is, but how He wants to be personally invested in each of our lives.
Knowing, loving, and serving the Lord Jesus is the greatest adventure to which anyone can be called. As a Pastor I made hundreds, probably thousands of visits to people in hospitals, nursing homes, care facilities, and homes seeing them at different stages of illness and suffering. In none of those circumstances did even one of them ask me: “Pastor, how might the Lord use me in this difficult situation? Can I still be useful to the Lord even in this season of my life?”
It was always some form of “What’s God going to do for me?” But why? Is the Lord finished with us just because we don’t have the same physical, mental, emotional, or financial means we once had? Maybe what the Lord is up to is alerting us that if we have breath, we have purpose and it’s time to get our eyes and mind off ourselves and onto those in our spheres of influence who need whatever it is we can give to point them to Him. It’s never simply a matter of “What can’t I do?” but “Lord, by Your grace, what CAN I do for YOU?”
Remember the simple chorus of the hymn: “Lord lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul through me. And may I bravely do my part, to win that soul for thee.” Yes, of course, there are times when we aren’t able to be aware of anything, but if we can be, we can pray for someone else besides ourselves and speak kind words of affirmation that the Lord is up to thousands of good things in our lives and in the lives of those with whom we have contact. He’s never idle.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! 😊
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
