Today’s Plan

Today’s Plan

John 12: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. ² There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. ³ Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

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Ask, “What are you going to do today?”, to your team so they can become more productive. I thought this was a great question so I not only asked them, I asked myself. The answers I got were highly ambitious, yet productive. “I am going to get more done using this simple question” I thought to myself.

• Some days I filled the hours with “being productive.”
• Some days I woke up working all the way until I went to bed.
• Some days I had no time for anything else but work.

JESUS went back to see Lazarus. Martha served JESUS as this was one of her gifts. Lazarus, being GOD’s example, sat with HIM. Mary saw JESUS’s dirty feet again. She remembered HIS reaction to the Pharisee who did not offer any water. I supposed she said, “Not in this house” as she used expensive oil and her hair to wipe away the mud.

• JESUS wants my attention.
• JESUS wants me to serve HIM.
• JESUS wants my highest honor.

Since I am not omnipresent, I can only be in one place at one time. When I plan my day so full of “being productive” I sometimes miss out on doing what GOD called me to do. HE allows me to be busy, but there are times when HE wants me to quiet down and just be with HIM. I am glad part of GOD’s work is simply just being with HIM.

• What are you going to do today?
• Are you going to fill your day up so full that you cannot hear GOD?
• Will you add GOD to your plan today and quiet down to listen to what HE wants to say?

One Sided Relationship

One Sided Relationship

John 6: ²⁸ Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

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When I heard the complaint, I started doing an assessment. “Wait a minute” I said to myself. “Didn’t I do all the work?” I mean I looked at all the planning, hard work and late nights I had put into the effort. I even counted every dollar that came out of “my” pocket.

• One sided relationships make me count what “I” am doing.
• One sided relationships make me feel like “I” am being used.
• One sided relationships make me raise “my” expectation that the other person or people should be doing the same.

“What works should we be doing to please GOD?” was the gist of the question the people asked. They had been miraculously fed by JESUS but told not to seek food alone. Immediately their enterprising minds went towards something tangible. They could see and measure “work” so they wanted to be told what to “do” so they could just do it. But GOD had something else in mind.

• GOD wants me to believe that HE took care of all my sins.
• GOD wants me to believe that HE takes care of all my situations.
• GOD wants me to believe that HE is with me every day, especially during the more difficult ones.

Air, water, food, shelter, and clothing all come from GOD. HE gives me talents and creates scenarios for me to use them to bring people to HIM. HE plans, does all the work and spends all that HE has on me. HE loved me so much that HE gave HIS only begotten SON.

Never once does HE say “Wait a minute, I gave you that meal you ate, the car you drove and clothes you are wearing.” HE does say “Love and believe in MY SON.” That’s it. This one sided relationship is totally in my benefit. All I have to do is believe and trust in JESUS. I place my faith in HIM.

• Are you questioning GOD’s love?
• Do you think you need to sin less or do more so you can be closer to GOD?
• Will you stop trying to control GOD and allow HIM to work through you simply by trusting JESUS today?

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?