We are not given the detail of what they thought they needed. But going through persecution and the doubts of their faith it is not too difficult to realise that they are reliant on God. It could be that they feel they have failed in some way, perhaps because of their desire or even decision to return to Judaism and now wonder if they can be brought back to the position they once held. Don’t we all experience that at times?
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13 v 20-21)
You have not been put here to simply struggle, to be overwhelmed by life’s predicaments.
God has a purpose for your life and it is to do good works.
The ultimate is not just faith in Jesus, following Him and going to heaven. It is also to do good to those here on earth.
Imagine for a moment if every disciple of Jesus woke today with one thought only and that is to do good. To alleviate someone’s hurt, to listen to someone, to kneel before a sword-wielding child with the soothing words to heal that troubled soul.
The immature enter ‘their’ church and are more interested in ‘serve us’ than ‘service’. After a while they begin to say ‘it’s not working for me here.’ NO. The church was never meant to work for you.
The mature follower of Jesus stops asking ‘who’s going to meet my needs?’ and starts asking, ‘whose needs can I meet?’
You don’t need a title or a trophy to do a good work. You don’t need training to be nice to someone, to help them smile and to make life a little easier. You just have to think less of yourself.
Wherever you are you can do good to others and that is the calling on your life. Many years ago I buried a man who thought he would be healed because ‘God has something for me to do, I don’t know what it is yet Pastor but I know He will tell me.’ I buried him with regret that this man had not seen the importance of good works. He died before he realised God was his equipper.
Your Equipper tells you to move today.
You may feel paralysed by your situation: Move is the command. You might be incapable but move and see that you are more than capable. He is your equipper.
Your hand may be shrivelled: Move is the command. You may feel your best days are over but move and you will see everything restored. He is your equipper.
You may drifted asleep in the garden of Gethsemane. Move is the command. You may have slipped away from where you should be but move and you will be reconnected to God. He is your equipper.
With this command comes the ability to do just that. That is the equipping.
I have seen those in self-pity get up, those who used to have passion for Jesus get up, those who gave away their potential get up, those paralysed by a stronghold in their life get up, those in the grip of guilt and self-condemnation get up.
He is your equipper.
Missions Paul 