What is Good?

Do you ever feel like you're not good enough?  Maybe you feel like sometimes people want you to be good enough to do something?  When you try out for cheer leading or football you have to make the cut.  When you apply for a job you have to interview well and present a list of skills.  You don't have to look very far in this world to find discouragement. It may come through your boss.  Sometimes it is only a friend away.  Sometimes a family member speaks discouragement over you.  Sometimes you don't measure up to expectations. But truthfully, if we rely on ourselves and our abilities to accomplish anything we are not going to get very far in God's kingdom. We may build a building or a church.  We may even build a city, but have we done it for God and His purposes?  Will it bring Him glory?  I find it interesting to note that God puts us in impossible situations, with only ourselves, the gifts that we may not be aware we have and prayer, and He miraculously accomplishes His Will through the Holy Spirit.
 
Ministry can be both a blessing and a burden.  God does not need our abilities or gifts, though He wants us to offer them to His command.  He can give us whatever we need to complete the tasks ahead of us for His purpose.  He blesses us with the opportunity to participate in fellowship with Him through ministry.  What He needs or requires is our availability and obedience.  If He has our availability sometimes in spite of ourselves He will move through us. When we are obedient God doesn't have to explain everything He wants us to do. In our obedience we agree with God and do what He asks. Then His will is accomplished in, around and through us.  Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has our good in mind. (Click on the scripture reference to view the passage.)  If we know that God is good and His purpose for us is good then we should be willing to minister through faith.  As we see His will accomplished our desire grows.  Ministry becomes a burden as a fire shut up in our bones when we are cooperating with the Holy Spirit. We can't wait to tell someone the Good News of Christ or to serve Him.  Ministry becomes a burden, as in a heavy load, when we try to accomplish God's will without His help.  Then, we can't wait for it to be over because we are exhausted.

So for those days I forget about the Holy Spirit empowering us and I am discouraged; when  I know I cannot do the things God asks me to do and I cannot imagine how He can make it happen; when I wonder why He chose me- I must remember it is because I asked Him to use me.  I made myself available when He called me.  I am not good.  I am not capable.  I am not able to do what God asks of me.  But through my sometimes reluctant obedience and availability God is able to do it through me.  And for those who doubt my ability and my skill- I have none!  Doubt away!  But this is what my God says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Know that if anything lasting is ever accomplished through this ministry you can be sure that it was accomplished through, by and for Jesus Christ.  And there could not be a more worthy, more capable, more qualified Leader for the job.  God alone is good.  He alone is worthy.  He alone will get the glory.  Please pray all our Mercy Abounds leaders will continue to be clean, available, obedient vessels who are totally submitted to His will and committed to His plan for everyone we serve.  I thank you in Jesus' Name.

To God be the glory!
Jamie