Vacation is a good time to step back and see the bigger picture in your life instead of the pressing, immediate needs. Our time away this summer has proved to be very valuable to me.
While away on vacation, I felt God bringing a theme to my heart over and over again.
I thought of Mark’s calling to plant and pastor a church in our community. I thought of the steady rapid growth of the church from our home, to a fire hall, and now to a middle school with two services. I thought of the great people I’ve come to know. I thought of the triumphs. I thought of the salvations, the calls to ministry. I thought of how the mighty hand of God has been moving in our community in ways I haven’t seen before as we obey Him.
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In pondering all of it, God kept bringing me back to my relationship with Him, to my walk with Him. God drew my attention to my responses to His power and His path. I thought of the times I felt fully alive and the times I’ve grumbled. I thought of the times I’ve been indifferent. I thought of the times I took credit that belonged to Him.
I want to see more of God’s power in the days ahead! I prayed for it. And God responded.
It seemed the word that kept coming to my mind was “humility”. God was reminding me through various readings and times of prayer that He desires humility in His servant.
Many of you are probably familiar with the story of Samson in the book of Judges. Samson was a judge and a Nazarite on whom God bestowed great physical strength. But there is more to his story. God’s hand was on him from the time of his birth. And God’s power was demonstrated from the time he was conceived. Samson’s mother’s name is not given in the Bible but she had been barren. Then the angel of the Lord told her she would have a son who was to be a Nazarite and that he would deliver Israel from the Philistines who had held them captive for 40 years.
And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him Judges 13:24-25a (emphasis mine)
What I want to call your attention to in this passage are the words, “And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.” In other words, God’s power rested on him. Have you ever felt the power of God rest upon you? Have you stepped out in obedience to the Lord and felt His power enabling you to accomplish a God-sized task? Have you felt a call from God to a work or purpose and then felt Him equipping you in a supernatural way to fulfill it?
There’s nothing like it.
There’s nothing like that intimate exchange where God entrusts a frail, earthen vessel with His power.
I know this. I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. I’ve watched God glorify Himself in our obedience. I’ve experienced God’s power and presence in tangible ways. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring.
But what happens when the miraculous becomes the “task”? What happens when the days become defined “business as usual”? It can happen.
Take a little credit here.
Ignore a prompting there.
Become critical.
Territorial.
Just look at the Christian culture at large.
We stand on our soapboxes.
We talk of our views…our enlightenment.
We lift ourselves up.
We steal the place reserved for God alone.
What happened to the wonder and mystery of who God is and His miraculous, often unfathomable power?
Somehow we’ve become smart enough, illuminated enough to explain it all away.
It frightens me more than I can put into words.
If you know the story of Samson, you know that it becomes tragic. Samson uses and abuses his power, ignoring God’s leading. He elevates himself. He feels he is the master of his fate. He is careless. Proud.
There is a verse in the story that stops me in my tracks. It makes my heart heavy with grief. Samson finds himself in a precarious situation for which he is fully responsible. In his mind, his plan to escape is “business as usual.” But here is what the Bible says,
And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Judges 16:20
He did not know, that the Lord had left him.
What powerful words. If the power of God had left you, would you know it?
Samson said he would “go out as other times.” He expected “business as usual”. But the Lord’s power had been removed. And so I ponder this work God has called me to do. I reflect on His generous hand of blessing, His mighty acts of power, His protection, His provision. And I repent. Let Him receive all praise and thanksgiving. Let Him receive all glory and honor. For it is by His power that all kingdom work is accomplished.
How humbling.
I recently received a book from a dear friend written by one of my hero’s of the faith, Amy Carmichael. I am convicted as I read of her humility and dedication to the Lord. In Gold Cord, Amy shares a prayer that she and her fellow laborers in ministry prayed often and I share it with you today,
Oh, we’re too high, Lord Jesus, we implore Thee,
Make of us something like the low green moss
That vaunteth not, a quiet thing before Thee,
Cool for Thy feet, sore wounded on the Cross.
Are you like me – desiring to see greater works of God? His work in us begins with humility. Give God the stage and let Him have His way and let it never be said, “He did not know, that the Lord had left him.”
