In this Pentecost season, we ae reminded of how God poured His spirit & ability upon His followers in the book of Acts and they supernaturally spoke in a new language, that is not their native tongue.
The foreigners among them heard and wonder how it is that these jews could speak their language! And in that language, they heard the gospel & praises proclaiming God's works, and came to accept Christ as Lord.
Pentecost for us
This reminded me of the conversation we had in our cell group the week before. We shared about our ideas and hopes to see various improvements in the area where we serve. Whether it is hoping for more capable talents, clearer roles & responsibilities or more efficient structure and work process, we all had our "wish list" and thoughts.
But in the midst of that discussion, a wise sister shared "that is why we need faith and we need to humble ourselves. If all these "better ways" were implemented, would it not be so easy to say that it was our wisdom and ability that brought success to whatever it is we are trying to achieve? We need to learn to open our hearts, embrace everyone as they are, love them where they are, and trust that if these are the people and resources he has placed here, He can use all of it and bring His work to pass. It is Him to make things happen, not our cleverness or capability."
Paul shares directly in 1 Corinthians 1:24-30
But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him (Christ) to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
Sure, we need to continue to learn, and equip ourselves in the spirit of excellence to serve the Lord and all He has called us to. But when we start getting frustrated, when our hearts start growing bitter and when we start to linger in complaining, we have departed from Wisdom - Wisdom that is Christ himself. Wisdom that says God has united us with Christ Jesus.
Collectively as His people, God made us pure and holy. His Spirit has been pour upon us as one, that even in our weaknesses combine, God is still wiser than the wisest of human plans.
This is a call to humility on our part, and a call to abide in the Vine which gives us all the Life we need. It is a reminder that if we want to boast, let us boast about the Lord, His ways, His workings. And if we are frustrated, and when we look at the seemingly "incapable" or "insufficient" situation, let us enter His Presence, draw close, humble ourselves and ask for His Grace, Mercy, Wisdom and Faith, to keep trusting that His plans cannot be thwarted by our lack of ability.
We may not have the best tech, or experts or coordinators in charge. But perhaps it is through these gaps that the Holy Spirit uses to prod others to rise up and offer their talents; and
in a divinely orchestrated manner, the Kingdom of God advances, in God's fullness of time, in God's way, through God's people where "His power is made perfect in our weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:9); that at the end of it all, the world may "see our works, and praise our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
For all things and in everything,
May all Glory be unto our Lord alone!
No comments:
Post a Comment