“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)
“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:1-4 NKJV)
Everything that Jesus ever said or did when He lived among men was by faith. He ministered to all He met by faith. He had complete faith in His Father, and operated solely out of the faith of His Father. Nothing was impossible to Him because of this. Without faith it is impossible to please God, and Jesus pleased God in all that He said and did. As I follow Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, I am able to do the same. I am seeing the faith of Jesus more clearly everyday, and am learning how to minister to those around me from that faith more and more. As I do what Jesus did, I can trust my Father to produce in my life the same results that He produced in Jesus life. That is good news for me, and those touched by my life.
The more that Jesus ministered to those in need, the more people put demand on Him for ministry in their lives. Everywhere He went multitudes rushed Him. Along with those who longed for His touch, and demanded His services, there were those seeking to destroy Him. He was constantly confronted, challenged, questioned, falsely accused, and slandered. He was pushed to the brink of exhaustion day after day. I am convinced that the only thing that kept Jesus going was His deep compassion for both His Father (whose heart for broken humanity He was demonstrating), and broken humanity (who He came to seek and save). He was willing to completely forsake His own needs, for the needs of others, because He was moved by compassion.
The more that I give my heart to my Father in Heaven, the more compassionate I become about serving those He puts in my life. Reaching out to others is draining. People can expect more from me than on my own I have the ability (or desire) to give. To be real, many times I would rather do my own thing in the comfort of my own little world (family and friends). It is the compassion of my Father working in me, and flowing through me, that moves me to reach out and show His love to others.
Like Jesus, it is faith that puts me in position to minister to others with the love of the Father, and resources of Heaven. It is compassion for both the Father that I represent, and the people that I am reaching out to, that moves me to take a risk and reach out to those in need. It is the Goodness of God, deposited within me by the Holy Spirit, that motivates me to keep on ministering day after day regardless of the results of my efforts.
Jesus was compelled to demonstrate the Goodness of God to a people trapped in the ravages of a religious system that placed them in the bondage of servitude to the angry, abusive tyrant of a God that they created in their own likeness. Their warped view of “holiness,” and learned obedience to an oppressive religious system, kept them from benefiting from the Father’s deep desire to love them, and set them free. The religious leaders were pushed to a murderous level of hatred for Jesus when He spoke of the Father as “My Father” rather than “Our Father.” His level of intimacy with His Father drove them to do everything in their power to shut Him down, destroy His ministry, and eventually hang Him on a cross. When Jesus called the Father “Abba” (Papa or Daddy) it was more than these religious leaders could tolerate. To them, the Father was a God to be submitted to in fear (stark terror), not a Daddy to be known and loved. Religion has changed a “reverential respect and awe” for a Father “set apart from sin,” to an extreme fear of a distant, harsh, God of laws and judgment. These leaders only recognized the “righteous expectations” and “wrath” of God, not His great compassion, and unlimited Goodness. While they rightfully understood that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” they were completely blind to the fact that “it is the goodness of God that brings men to repentance.”
Jesus brings the truth to light as He brings a proper balance to how I view my Heavenly Father, and how I relate to Him. I am embraced by His love, overwhelmed by His goodness, and in awe of His perfection and righteousness. It is beyond my comprehension that the Eternal, Majestic, Holy Creator, King, and Ruler of this Universe is my Father, and wants me to know Him intimately as my Abba Father (Daddy, Papa). Yet, that is the Father that has been clearly revealed by Jesus.
Holy Spirit, please open my eyes, and soften my heart to…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 117: “Only when I truly see Jesus am I able to accurately see the Father, myself, or those around me.” Part 7: Ministering through faith, moved with compassion, motivated by goodness continued.