SELF-INITIATIVE – Seeing was needs to be done. Taking steps to do what needs to be done without having to be told to do it. Do you have self-initiative?
Take a look at Andrew, one of Jesus’ apostles and Peter’s quiet brother. In John 6 Jesus was helping all who came to Him. He went up on a mountain, sat down, and lifted His eyes to see a multitude of people coming toward Him. Jesus then asked one of His disciples (Philip), “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” even though He already knew what He would do. Philip gave him the answer that most of us would give; “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may have a little.” We would have probably said, “Jesus! Are you kidding! There’s not enough money in the bank to feed this many people!” Then Andrew steps up with self-initiative. Andrew said to Jesus, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” Boy, did Andrew, Philip, and the whole world, including you and me, find out just what Jesus, the Son of God can do with whatever we have.
There are others in the Bible who show self-initiative: In Acts 18:24-28 Pricilla and Aquila showed self-initiative when they heard a mighty eloquent preacher named Apollos preach about Jesus, except he only knew part of the story. They took Apollos aside and explained the way of God more accurately. We find that Apollos “greatly helped those who had believed through grace” and he “vigorously refuted” those who denied that Jesus was the Christ.
On Friday after Jesus had died, Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemus showed self-initiative and great love for Jesus when they came to take His body down from the cross to prepare it and bury it in that brand new borrowed tomb. Jesus didn’t need that tomb for long, only until Sunday morning. This is a beautiful reading in John 19:38-42. It is very difficult for me to read this passage without crying. I would like to think that if I were alive on that day, there would be a third person with Joseph and Nicodemus, me. Again, are you looking for what needs to be done, and when you see it do you take the steps necessary to get it done?
This Sunday (26th) we will continue in our series entitled, “Useful and Fruitful” looking at an obstacle that often trips us up when we are called to be useful and fruitful with our “talents” – EXCUSES. On Sunday evening at 5:00 we will consider the sufferings of life and how we can look at them differently. Jesus was “planted like grain” and “poured out like water.” In life we are also called to be planted and poured. God always provides in the good and in the bad. We can always trust Him.
Take a look around after worship on Sunday. Our nursery, the nursery restroom, and our classrooms have been freshly painted, the bulletin boards and dry-erase boards are going up, and very soon we hope to get back in to study God’s word better than ever before. Our new digital sign is ready to be lifted in place. Guys: if you can stay for a few minutes after the worship hour on Sunday, you can help put it in place. Thank you for your patience and support during this most incredible time. We can make it together. MB
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