To serve (Part VII)

Last week we talked about patience and how this virtue is essential for our performance in the Work of God, but above all on how to develop zeal for those who are, or may be, under our care.

We will respect everyone’s faith, the process of each one is crucial, giving room for the Holy Spirit to complete His work, for He, and only He has the responsibility to convince us about the whole truth.

This week we will cover the topic: Do not wait.

Something the Lord Jesus did not do. He did not wait or depend on others to fulfill His mission or yo fit into the Father’s plan for His life. If He did, until today humanity would probably be waiting for redemption! Why is this so?

Let us look at the some of the apostles’ actions before being baptized with the Holy Spirit:

– Peter did not understand the Lord Jesus words: “Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”(John 13: 8).
And despite the fact that he had been side by side with Jesus during His capture he denied Him three times before the rooster crowed. (John13: 37,38)

– Thomas walked with Jesus all the time, and yet revealed disbelief when he questioned his destiny and coming. Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14: 5)

– Philip did not recognize Jesus as God Himself. As being one with the Father, despite having witnessed His character and miracles:
“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?”
(John 14: 8,9)

Imagine if the Lord Jesus depended on the quality of faith of His apostles to do the Work of God? But He saw well beyond that…
He did not depend on the faith of the disciples or anyone else. He knew that He had to stimulate their faith so that they remain firm until the fulfillment of the promise.

Sometimes we create a certain “expectation” from someone or something. We put our strength in caring for that person or on that responsibility. We guide, help, give our all, but when we do not receive the same in return we become frustrated… We think that what we did was in vain and we tend to give up.

But see friend, Jesus never depended on anyone! On the contrary, He guides us, encourages us and looks after us without compromising His responsibility! That is what He did, continuously.
Before literally giving His life, shedding His blood, He gave Himself entirely to those that God had entrusted to His care, without expecting anything in return until the end. This is the true essence of SERVING!

Without expecting anything in return He taught through His own example, all the time that they were together: by healing a man who was sick for 38 years (John 5: 5.); forgiving the woman who was caught in adultery (Jo.8: 19.11); when He told the blind man to wash his eyes in the pool of Siloam, clearing him of his blindness (Jo.9: 7); resurrecting Lazarus (Jo.11: 34), among many other miracles and manifestations of faith.

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17: 12)

Do not wait or rely on anyone or anything to do what has to be done! Whether it is those who are under your care or a co-worker.

Regardless of what others think or do, or the time they take to understand what has to be done, do your part: SERVE!