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My Two Cents
by Rev Chuck Behrens
June, 2015
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Past Articles |
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We've all seen a scene like
this haven't we? Being in a crowed Lowes store or even a busy airport and
suddenly the monotony is broken by a really cute scene. Here comes one of
those luggage carts that look sort of like a big grocery cart without the
big basket. Pushing it was this very little boy, barely able to walk and
about one-fourth the size of the cart.
Actually, the boy thought he was pushing the cart. No, his Daddy was right
next to him with his hands on the bar above his son's head. So, the cart
was staying on a straight course moving at a good speed. So, despite the
way it looked to this little cart jockey, it was his Father who was really
making it happen.
Philippians 2:13 tell us, "It is God (That's good right there!) who works
in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Okay, we've got
the want to - that's the will. And the how to - that's the act. And the
three key words, "It's your God."
Looks like us doing it. You do the work for the Lord; you do the music,
the serving, the encouraging, the leading, the speaking, and the singing.
And sure, it looks like it's you who's living your Christian life; saying
"no" to temptation, loving people, encouraging people. But then, it looked
to that little boy like he was doing the pushing, and it was really his
Father. That's a picture of us.
Jesus illustrated this with a grapevine. He said, "He's the vine, we're
the branches." The grapes look like they're coming from the branch. Right?
Wrong. They're coming through the branch from the vine. If you don't
believe it, cut off the branch and see how many grapes it produces. It's
like that in our life in Jesus Christ. Anything you've become, anything
you've done, all those spiritual victories, accomplishments that you've
been a part of may look like something you have done. But it wasn't really
you doing something for God. It was God doing something through you.
Jesus put it bluntly in His vine story. He said, "Without Me you can do
nothing." Nothing that matters. Nothing that lasts. Nothing that's
life-changing. Jesus is ultimately our Father who moves the cart. There
are two attitudes that just aren't acceptable therefore. First, pride of
any accomplishment, any ability or position. If your heart's saying, "Boy,
aren't I something?" after a spiritual victory, your heart's in Fantasy
Land. Realistically we should be saying, "Isn't God something?" Remember,
it's God who should get the glory. God says, "I am the Lord. My glory I
will not give to another." All the praise belongs to God.
But then it's almost a flip side, because there's a second unacceptable
attitude that's the polar opposite of pride. It's this paralyzing sense of
inadequacy that keeps you from listening for the Lord, working for your
Lord, accepting assignments from the Lord. But Philippians 4:13 says, "I
can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."
Yes, you are inadequate. The more you realize that, the more you get out
of the way and you depend on the Lord to do it. You say, "Lord, there is
not enough me to do this." He goes, "Good. It's going to be a little you
and a whole lot of Me." You can dare for Jesus, you can work for Jesus,
and you can accept assignments from Jesus, because it's His power, His
adequacy that's doing it anyway. "It is God who works" the verse says.
Hallelujah!
This little boy was able to move what he could never move because of his
Father's strength. You can move things for the Lord that are way beyond
you because of your Heavenly Father's strength. Keep pushing the cart,
keep walking, but remember that your cart will stay on course. Your cart
will move a heavy load because of the powerful hand of your Father. Makes
it a perfect FATHER’S DAY, huh?
See you in Church,
Rev. Chuck
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