Simply Be

Matthew 12: ¹⁵ Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. ¹⁶ He warned them not to tell others about him. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁸ “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰ A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
²¹     In his name the nations will put their hope.”

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When yet another request came from the church I was reluctant to say yes this time because I was the trustee chair, deacon, accountant and teacher. My, get it done, attitude had caught up to me and now I was weary. “Does GOD want me to carry all this weight?” I asked.

• Sometimes I try too hard to please GOD.
• Sometimes I feel the more I do, the more GOD is pleased.
• Sometimes I anticipate GOD’s love through my actions.

Facing burn out, I finally had to say “No!” Does GOD want us to work our fingers to the bone trying to be forgiven for our sins? NO! In fact GOD made it easy.

• JESUS became the chosen servant for me whom the FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT delight.
• JESUS proclaims justice to the nations through me whenever HE sends me to HIS people.
• JESUS brings justice, victory and hope to all nations; this is where I place my trust.

What does GOD want from me? What does HE want me to do? How often should I do it? Should I sell everything and live in a desert, proclaiming HIS name? all of these questions raced through my mind. GOD says to me “Just Be.”

“Be the person I made you to be” is what GOD says to me. HE made me with a purpose and I am the only one who can reach “that” person with the message of grace from JESUS. Serving is nice, wearing myself out is not. GOD wants me to simply “be.”

• Are you trying to make GOD do something by working harder?
• Do you think GOD will love you more or less depending on how much you work?
• Can you place your total trust in JESUS’ salvation so your works become a gift rather than an obligation?