Watch to See that God Is Working

 April 2, 2024

Tuesday

Most of us have heard the adage, "Find a need and fill it." Is this what Jesus did? The surprising answer is no. 

I read the following scriptures this morning: 

John 5:17–20 (NASB 2020)¹⁷ But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” ¹⁸ For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. ¹⁹ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in the same way. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Jesus didn't just look for a need, He looked for where His Father was doing and joined His Father in this work. 

Each of us has been called to certain tasks. These tasks have two aspects. We are gifted to perform these tasks and God must show them to us. We are not simply to go willy-nilly into the world determining needs without the Spirit revealing where God wants us to join Him.

Now think for a moment: if God wants us to join Him, shouldn't He offer the invitation. In other words, shouldn't God show where He is working so that you will join Him. Could God actually work on the other side of the equation and send people who indicate that God has been working in their lives to you. 

So, by walking with God, God sends people to indicate where He is working. If we continue to walk with God, we accept the invitation God has sent and join Him in the work.

Last year, I began to think of the things people ask me about the most. They want to know how to pray, forgive, have hope in hopelessness, etc. So, I outlined 2024 to be a year to address those questions. I don't see this as my preaching plan for 2024, I see this as God's preaching plan for 2024. Now, I don't think that God is seeking to grow our church numerically as much as He is preparing the people for some greater work that He is doing. Truthfully, churches with great attendance may not be joining God at all. They can be content to have a great attendance.

That means that we must be looking for where God is working. It will be in an area that needs people who are more mature in their faith. They will know how to pray, forgive, have hope in hopelessness, etc.  So, let's open our eyes today and every day asking, "Where is God showing me that He is working today?" Then, let's join Him there.