While paying attention to the movements of Christ, (apart from the strategies) when studying the Gospel accounts, we can see what appears as ‘personal devotion’ from him to the Father, (Ps. 40:8) and yet it’s not the personal “ground” – but of the Spirit – from whom He takes direction.
We might believe that a dedicated will towards God is what He desires in accomplishing His work. But even Christ Himself, though still the Son of God, was subjected to the Father as Son of Man – learning obedience by which the things He suffered. How much more true is that of us who are in subjection to our Lord and Savior?
Having lives that show personal obedience to God’s plan can never look like us working from our personal ground and calling it “devotion”, because it can then look like we’re either fulfilling either law or mandate through our own energies, and us just filling up our personal passions.
The enemy of our souls wants us to believe that as Christ followers, good comes from us. Please see the argument Paul makes in writing to the Romans in Chapter 7. Any and all goodness comes from God. Period.
Your community certainly desires the “good” work and effort only you can provide because of your unique calling and experiences. But in order to move the Kingdom of God, it must come out of order first. For every symbol of the work of the Spirit has its energies always to be of a redemptive sort. The Spirit from the beginning moved upon the face of the waters (Gen. 1:2) to carry out the redemptive work of the Son by all practical purposes. In other words, it requires you and I to fulfill in the Church the manifold wisdom of God, which is of His goodness and not ours.
Sounds confusing, I know. Just remember:
- Order
- Symbol
- Redemptive
- Practical
The Creation account carries these abiding principles to better understand why so much interest in Man (Ps. 8) and the need for all things to be fruitful, subdue, and fill the Earth (Gen. 1:28; Eph. 1:23). No doubt, the impact of what you can do has a hidden strategy that the Father works to His own end in the Son, because all of this is related to the “Ground” (resurrection). Remember, in the Garden, the ground was lost, and is now being recovered. Recovery is hard. Recovery is a long process. Recovery takes time. But recovery also must be by principle. Jesus as Son, always watched the Father at work. And what He did, the Son carried out according to the power (anointing) that was within.
Well, my friend if you are a Christ follower, then you too are on the same Resurrection ground carrying out the same things you see your Heavenly Father doing by the Spirit dwelling and imparting the Anointed One within. Again, it is His enablement, His Presence, His power, by His promises. Any specific enabling is Not coming from you wearing a badge or having a bunch of letters behind your name. It is you being warmly present at every given bidding, doing what you see the Father doing.
