Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 88
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
I
wonder if you will get the same out of this day that I did…God has no
grandchildren, and I want to be a garden hose.
Enjoy!
DAY 204
Ministry
That Wears Us Out
Therefore, since we have
this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.
II Corinthians 4:1
I remember talking to a pastor that told me that his great heart
for the people had led him to fatigue and depletion. I responded, “’A great
heart of compassion led me to exhaustion’ sounds so much better than saying,
‘Playing God has led to my exhaustion!’” But it was playing God that caused his malady. It is impossible
to become exhausted if ministry is the flow of Jesus’ life through us to
others. We are not the source of living water, life, or wisdom, but rather the
channel; I cannot imagine a garden hose getting that worn out! However, when we play God we strive to
become the source; we attempt to get in our child's skin and live his
life, we convict our mate of carnality, we force on others the building
program, and we make disciples in our own image. We must refuse to play God and rest while connected to the
Source. Does this
mean we just lie around like the garden hose? Yes! The Gardener will cause the flow!
We are to be used as the avenue for the drink, but we are not the drink.
A friend told me of a time that his children asked him for an
automobile. He replied, “Why are you asking me? Go ask the person that I have
to ask when I need a car. Go ask your Father in heaven!” If we continue to play God for
others there is always the risk that they will not find God for themselves.
God does not have one
single grandchild. Everyone
must find Christ for himself. There is so much in the discipleship process that
God must do, and without His activity, nothing of lasting value will happen.
I was in the north of Italy when, not being able to read Italian,
I parked the car in a no-parking zone. I got out of the car and noticed an
officer writing tickets. At that I put two and two together and immediately
turned around, got in the car, and pulled out. Not content with that, the
officer waved me over and attempted to explain that I was going to get a
ticket, which I only surmised from his waving the ticket book and pen and his
appearing to be detailing in Italian my offense! Really, for all I knew he was
writing free passes to the circus! I, on the other hand, was pleading my
defense in English. Neither of us really knew what the other was saying. In the
end we both threw up our hands in frustration and walked away. If the Holy Spirit is not working in
someone’s life, he simply will not be able to hear anything of our translating
and interpreting what God has given us to say. “HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT
SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR?” (Mark 8:18) If we have been able to hear and see, it is because of
the Holy Spirit. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your
ears, because they hear” (Matthew 13:16). Responding to what He allows us to hear and see is a
different matter, but hearing and seeing comes from Him. Trying to make a person see and
hear is wearing. Simply rest, allow the years to speak against the minutes,
allow the person’s life experiences to witness to Life, and stay connected to
the Source. Ministry
then can come through us to another.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
I trust you understand I got a whole lot more than the two items I
mentioned at the top! Was just laughing
so hard at Michael’s pictorial that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity! He is just so encouraging in all he says…
Look at all the green highlights…”incredible truth.” That is what grasped me as I have re-read
this day’s writing many times. We have
some foundational application of God’s truths that will help those of us
ministering and those we minister to.
And, prayerfully, we hope they will see their part in receiving what the
Holy Spirit is wanting to do to work in their life. It’s that “response to what He allows us to
hear” that is so critical.
First, I need to “refuse to play God and rest while connected to the
Source,” and it is comforting to know that I need to “simply rest, allow the
years to speak against the minutes, allow the person’s life experiences to
witness to Life, and stay connected to the Source.”
I like this “resting” and avoiding the “exhaustion, fatigue, and
depleting.” Amen!
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living
Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
leemccm@gmail.com
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
No comments:
Post a Comment