Day 5 | Helping Hands, 2016

Day 5 - For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:13 [Amplified version] 

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Chip Ingram has a sermon called “How to Become the Person that You’veAlways Longed To Be”.  In that message he talks about areas and needs to be met within the church and how to step up and outside of your comfort zone. He uses an example about how most of the time, churches have a tendency to let the Pastor visit the shut ins or pray with the sick etc. Sometimes they even handle music, children’s ministry and/or coordinating maintenance needs within the building. Yet one person cannot be responsible for it all. –Nor should they be.

Don’t we also have a tendency to believe that someone else must be more qualified because we see them already doing x, y or z. The truth is most of the time, the people that you see ‘doing’ are just like you and I. The only thing that separates them, is the fact that they were willing to jump in and figure out how to do a new thing. They too, are still learning.

On the flip side of that whether or not you know what it is, you have a calling. All the ingredients are already inside of you. Having a variety of experiences and lessons will activate your personal talent and interests. Trying new things will give you a stronger sense of self and even the mistakes that you make along the way, will give you wisdom that you can build on. Together these things will define your character and personal “flavor”.

With every “first” you might feel awkward and notice your flaws or make mistakes but what an opportunity to trust in the Lord! His Word assures us that he can use all things for good (Romans 8:28). And a few verses up from that says that “Glory will be revealed in us”. In the words of Jesus “Do not be afraid, just believe” that you have a purpose. Then getting busy let the Lord lead you to and through it.

Think About It:

1. Spend some time in thought about where you could go to work for the Lord. There is also no job that is too small. Even if it felt like it was, you could develop humility doing things “beneath” you. Connections can also be made while you’re completing tasks that will take you to the next level. You just need to start on the path where you are, in order to get to that intersection.

2. Our verse says that it is God who works in you to will and do of his good pleasure. Are there any relationships, circumstances or assignments in your life right now that would not bring him pleasure?

3. If these questions are hard for you to answer, consider finding an older Christian mentor to guide you through them or pairing up with a friend to help you do them. Name someone that you could use in one or both of these roles.


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Photo Credit: The above, stunning image is actually christian artwork around the verse Philippians 2:13. You can purchase it from here: https://www.marklawrencegallery.com