Tuesday Inspiration
Topic: Are you a volunteer on a campaign or a branch connected to
the Vine?
Are you busy working for God that you are missing God? Do you feel empty
because you have poured out and have not been refilled. Is your relationship
with God based on works? In 2016 the United States of America we will elect the
next president. There are three possible parties; Republican, Democrat, and
Independent. On each campaign they will have volunteers in each state that will
work to mobilize voters. The role of the campaign volunteer is to speak
directly to voters by making calls, knocking on doors, and registering
individuals to vote.
They can also host parties to engage in political
discussions, pass out fliers, and/or engage voters on social media. The time commitment
is up to the volunteer. The volunteer can make up their own schedule and decide
how they want to spend their time on the campaign. Some volunteers work tirelessly
on a campaign and never actually meet the presidential candidate. Some may meet
the candidate but never establish a relationship with the candidate. The
volunteers think they know the candidate because of their time commitment and
knowledge of the candidate’s policies and plans once in office.
We tend to treat Jesus as if we are a volunteer on his campaign.
We make our schedule of when we will serve, we use social media and other forms of communication to encourage and persuade believers and non believers. We sometimes spend many hours a week or only a few minutes a week serving based on what our schedule will allow. Similar to the campaign volunteer we know what the Lord stands for based on his word. We are continually trying to mobilize believers into action. Through all this great work that we are doing some of us never actually meet Jesus. We have not established a relationship with Jesus or we once had a relationship but we have not maintained it because we are busy working in his name.
We have created our own schedule of when we will serve the Lord instead of allowing Jesus to determine our schedule. We filled our schedules with time commitments of serving the Lord and have not stopped to ask the Master if that is what he wants us to do. It is similar to remodeling a house without asking the homeowners their style or preference. When we execute our own designs we have failed to remember we are servants and we need to ask our Owner what he wants done. The Lord gave Noah, Moses, David, Joshua, etc very specific instructions because they were listening. We have to stop being busy and learn to listen and wait for instruction.
The job of a servant is to obey the master. If we are busy being busy
we may be missing out on the most important part of serving which is to receive
instruction. We can do all the good in the world but if we are not being
obedient and allowing the Lord to use us as he sees fit we are just volunteers
on a campaign. John 15:5: I am the vine,
ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and in him the same bringeth forth
much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. When we are working without his
guidance we are doing nothing.
We make our schedule of when we will serve, we use social media and other forms of communication to encourage and persuade believers and non believers. We sometimes spend many hours a week or only a few minutes a week serving based on what our schedule will allow. Similar to the campaign volunteer we know what the Lord stands for based on his word. We are continually trying to mobilize believers into action. Through all this great work that we are doing some of us never actually meet Jesus. We have not established a relationship with Jesus or we once had a relationship but we have not maintained it because we are busy working in his name.
We have created our own schedule of when we will serve the Lord instead of allowing Jesus to determine our schedule. We filled our schedules with time commitments of serving the Lord and have not stopped to ask the Master if that is what he wants us to do. It is similar to remodeling a house without asking the homeowners their style or preference. When we execute our own designs we have failed to remember we are servants and we need to ask our Owner what he wants done. The Lord gave Noah, Moses, David, Joshua, etc very specific instructions because they were listening. We have to stop being busy and learn to listen and wait for instruction.
The job of a servant is to obey the master. If we are busy being busy
we may be missing out on the most important part of serving which is to receive
instruction. We can do all the good in the world but if we are not being
obedient and allowing the Lord to use us as he sees fit we are just volunteers
on a campaign. John 15:5: I am the vine,
ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and in him the same bringeth forth
much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. When we are working without his
guidance we are doing nothing.
To be a branch we must obey they vine. When we are burned out working
for the Lord we have to evaluate who is dictating our schedule. Are we allowing
Jesus to determine our schedule and our workload or are we doing things because
we think that is what God wants us to do? 2 Cor 12:9 “….. My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” If we are not
receiving strength we may not be obedient to the vine, we may be working in our
own strength. Matt 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.
Jesus instructs us to take his yoke upon us which means to submit to
him. In our submission he wants us to learn him. When we learn him we have to
listen to him. We cannot listen if we are so busy being busy. To learn Jesus we
have to experience Jesus. To learn Jesus we have to gain and expand our knowledge
of him by allowing ourselves to be taught by the master. His yoke is easy and
his burden is light. When we take Jesus yoke upon us it is not similar to the
heavy yoke that is put on cattle used for bondage and slavery forcing animals
into submission. Jesus yoke gives rest for our souls and if we are not receiving
rest for our souls we may need to recalibrate and ask Jesus to dictate our
schedule so we move from volunteers on a campaign to branches on the vine.
God Bless you!
Pray
Most high God, the great King over all the earth. Lord you reign over
the heaven and the earth. Lord you sit upon the throne of holiness. You are
great and greatly to be praised. We have thought of your loving-kindness and
will praise you to the ends of the earth. Forgive us for working in your name
and not seeking your guidance. Forgive us for working at times in our own
strength. Help us to dwell in the secret place of the most High and abide under
the shadow of the Almighty. Help us to trust you with everything and be a
branch and allow you to be the vine. Teach us how to wait, listen and learn for
your instruction. Teach us to please you and not men. Teach us to no longer do
good works but serve you and not the cause. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
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