There is a time in every believer’s life where everything you touch turns to gold. Well, not really, but it can seem as though your prayers are being answered left and right, and life feels really good. Not always, but in many cases, this is the stage of believing where we get our feet wet. It’s that golden stage that is also called the ‘infant’ stage of believing. Younger people experience the exuberance and enthusiasm from first encountering the liberty we have in Christ, and they often feel invincible because God surrounds their lives with His shield and grace. They’re in this stage, and often enter the mission field because of it. It’s an indescribable experience when our faith is strong, and we’re witnessing the Lord work mightily through us to accomplish His purpose. It is very important to recognize that this is a stage in our believing, and like everything else in life, it does change.
Heavenly Father said in Malachi 3:6(KJV), “For I am the LORD, I change not.” God doesn’t change, but we do. Our priorities shift and without even noticing it, the slippery slope of independence finds its way into our thinking. When this happens, some of us begin to make choices and decisions without consulting the Father, and we trick ourselves into believing we’ve heard His voice, when what we’ve heard is our own agenda pushing its way through. Many feel they have good reason for this. They are consumed with the needs of others and think it’s their responsibility to change or have a profound impact on the circumstances and conditions of those in need.
There is no question that the heart of Christ is that everyone will be saved, healed, and delivered. The tremendous impact he had when he walked the earth cannot be quantified; it is immeasurable. The Gospel of John 21:25(NIV) tells us, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” We will be experiencing the impact of Jesus’s love for all of eternity. His love is never-ending, unlimited, and unconditional. Romans 8:38 tells us that nothing can separate us from his love. The compassion he has for all people is unmatched. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, and he delivered those that were oppressed of demonic spirits, yet, Jesus Christ did not heal and deliver everyone.
Matthew 13 gives us the record of Jesus Christ traveling back to Nazareth, his hometown. This is the place where he worked with his earthly father, Joseph, and learned the trade of a carpenter. Everyone in his hometown of Nazareth knew him and his parents, and they knew his brothers as well. They watched Jesus grow up, and although they were amazed by his wisdom and miraculous power, they would not believe that he was indeed the Son of God. Matthew 13:57-58(NLT) says, “And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.” Every living soul desperately needs the Lord Jesus Christ, but all will not accept him. All will not believe that he is the Risen Savior, the Son of the Living God.
There are many missionaries that have great zeal for God’s work, but do not have the discipline of humility and obedience that Jesus had. Our Great Redeemer spent a great deal of time in prayer. The Gospels tell us about his habit of praying in the wee hours of the morning and taking the time to quietly mediate in the Holy Spirit. It was spending quality time with Heavenly Father that allowed Jesus Christ to order his day and to know what God wanted him to do daily. He was guided and directed by his constant communion and communication with Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, and this is the example we must follow.
Jesus said in John 8:29(NLT), “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” Most of us cannot say this. We have many other things that occupy our head and heart space, but Jesus Christ ONLY did what pleased the Father. He never did anything that God did not sanction. We’re not perfect. We are being perfected daily in Christ. As we are, we must be assured that our goal should be to only do those things that please God. He will guide us through His Holy Spirit IF we desire to be guided. Rather than assuming what God wants, we must always ask Him for His divine wisdom, counsel, and guidance. He will give us visions and dreams through His Holy Spirit that indwells us, and He will lead us as we study His Word and be obedient to follow it.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
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“The Discipline of Humility and Obedience”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2020. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.