Have you ever looked over someone's life that you admired and began taking stock of the impact that they have made in the lives of their community, their state, their nation, the Body of Christ at larger and then weighed the cost? Taking the time to think about the amount of sacrifice, preparation, selflessness, hardship, energy, and even struggle they had to endure to make that kind of impact. If they are still all around, they have to continue to yield and surrender their time and effort to leave a lasting, effective, and positive influence on people, policy, and the social climate to the extent in which they do. What did they have to yield and lay down so that they could be used divinely by God and bring forth a yield, a harvest for God?
The thoughts of others' accomplishments on behalf of the Kingdom of God invites the question of what you and I are yielding or are willing to yield to accomplish our call to plant and harvest.
What areas of our lives are we ready to place before God and become selfless so that others can be uplifted and advanced in their relationship with God and understanding of Him. If we want to fulfill our divine purpose of reflecting His image and bring glory to God, it will take sacrifice and struggle, and each day, we have to decide it is worth it.
Many of us will not make an international impact (however, it is more likely today with the internet and advancements in technology). Still, each of us is empowered to make a personal one. As Christians, we have been sanctioned by God and enabled through the gifting and guidance of the Holy Spirit to influence those around us. We are capable of encouraging and affecting others toward their betterment and to the glory of God. God sent His Son and then gave us His Spirit so this world, this universe, could see His wisdom and love through us. We are to lift Him in the sight of others and glorify Him by doing the good deeds that He has prepared us to complete (Ephesians 2:10). God does not just proclaim He is God Almighty but chooses to show the world through circumstance and people like us that He is a God of Love and a God who sees, hears, and acts in response to the cries and needs of His creation.
I have started reading Anne Graham Lotz's book "Jesus in Me." In it, she not only retells for us how the Holy Spirit has fulfilled the promises of Christ to her by being a Comforter, Help, etc., she reflects on how the Holy Spirit led others to be those things for her in the physical realm, also. Her accounts reveal the tremendous and divine impact that Holy Spirit-guided individuals can have in demonstrating to others God's love, wisdom, timeliness and display the attributes of His Spirit. Her recollections had me think of the moments and opportunities in my life that I have and have not yielded to the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit. I reflect on the times and take note of the excuses I gave to appease my ego into inactive. I drop my head to the moments when I placed my comfort or struggle above the need for relief and support of those revealed to me.
Through Mrs. Lotz's recollections, we see not only the work of the Holy Spirit but the work of the Holy Spirit through the children of God He inhabits. I was convicted not because I want to be seen as that Christian who has it all together. But because I know the times, I have required a word of encouragement, a helping hand, or a reassuring presence, and God has provided that for me through others. We can make comments like, "God, let what pricks Your heart prick mines," but when will we get to the place of moving beyond the tug of awareness to action. When will we turn up the volume of the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the conviction in our heart louder than the voice of excuses, insecurity, and pride of our flesh?
Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Son and Your Spirit. May we stay dedicated to growing in a manner that we can remain true to Your Word and remain humble before the direction and correcting of Your Spirit. Let us surrender to your guidance to take action. Touch our hearts, so we are receptive to the roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Encourage us in our practice of receiving from Him comfort, intercessory prayer, instruction, gifting, and empowerment to live life abundantly. And with all the pulls and distractions of life, keep us committed to performing the good deeds you have planned for us in Jesus Name Amen.
Exercise your yielded position to be used.
God has a lot He wants to show, teach, and impart to others through us. We cannot permit the list of reasoning to stop us from walking in obedience.
Scriptural Encouragement
Luke 10:12 (AMP) "He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."
1Timothy 1:14-16 (AMP) "Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, [that special endowment] which was intentionally bestowed on you [by the Holy Spirit] through prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands on you [at your ordination]. Practice and work hard on these things; be absorbed in them [completely occupied in your ministry], so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself [concentrate on your personal development] and to your teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you."
Mark 9:41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will not lose his reward.