When we can do it on our own, we get the credit, but when we cannot do it without God doing it through us, God gets the glory.
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. (Jesus) John 15:5
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory for Your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1
God doesn’t open doors for those who have not prepared. Instead, He opens doors for the prepared.
Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. Luke 2:52
…This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open: “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny me. Revelation 3:7-8
Any calling of God will always require sacrifices … of time, talents, and resources.
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29).
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Follow a godly mother’s advice: “Whatever He says to ‘you’, do it.” – quote from Mary – John 2:5 (Emphasis on “you” mine.)
God knows “you” personally and desires to guide “you” in a manner that is unique with His purpose and design for you. His instruction and guidance will never contradict scripture, but may not be what He has told your best friend, close relative, or others within your small group to do.
Revelation 22:1-2 Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.
The passage above is a description of John’s vision of the new, better everlasting type of the former Eden to come (see parallel from Genesis 2:10-14).
However, we can see a spiritual parallel for us as Christians:
Once we become the sons and daughters of God, we can enter the throne of the presence of God through worship. The river represents God’s Spirit alive in us (just as water is consistently used as a representation of the Spirit of God throughout scripture). When we dwell daily in His presence and are filled with God’s Spirit, our lives will be fruitful, and the fruit of our lives will remain fresh and new. Our love won’t grow cold, our joy won’t dissipate, and our peace will remain constant even in the midst of life’s challenges, trials and storms. Once we personally experience the life, restoration, and healing of God, we can then be used to bring life, restoration, and healing to others, and, as this scripture says, ultimately, to the nations.
Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ John 7:37-38
(Also see John 4:14 & Ezekiel 47)
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow evil men’s advice, who do not hang around with sinners, scoffing at the things of God. But they delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on His laws and thinking about ways to follow Him more closely. They are like trees along a riverbank bearing luscious fruit each season without fail. Their leaves shall never wither, and all they do shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
Is what we refer to as “mega” actually miniscule in God’s eyes? (Note: minuscule & miniscule – both commonly used, but I prefer to use miniscule.)
In our limited, finite minds, what we think of as “mega” is always “miniscule” to God. Think about the vastness of creation, the world, the ocean, etc. People refer to churches containing thousands of members as “mega” churches, but in light of all the people in the world, and so many unchurched, non-believers, and non-followers of Christ, even the churches with 30,000 plus members are not considered mega to God. Yes, these churches may be considered “mega” to us in comparison of the average church, but, again, God loves the whole world (John 3:16), and that sounds pretty “mega” – right?
