“I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these” John 5:19, 20
Recently, my husband and I began to realize the importance of “doing what the Father tells or shows us”.
So easily we can fall into doing what people expect us to do, tradition, or habits. Spending time with the Father, asking Him to show us what He wants, listening to and obeying Him is what Jesus modeled.
The following is an interesting e-mail I received from Merle, a dear friend in South Africa. She writes about her call from the Lord and her obedience to that call.
“Thirteen years ago, God called me in a dream, and said to me, ‘Pick up your cross, follow me and feed my people, I will lead you and show you the way, do not be afraid.’ Now the very reason I get up in the morning is to serve the risen Lord.
“I deal with a lot of HIV AIDS people — men and woman. Many orphans are left without a parent, and many children have AIDS and are dying of this terrible virus. I pick up the dying and take them to hospital to die with dignity and with the love of God.
“I work in the squatter camps with the poorest of the poor. The areas I work in are very dangerous, however I have no fear at all. I am protected by the Holy Spirit. In all the years I have never been harmed, praise God. I have to love until it hurts — there is so much poverty, so many deaths, so much sadness — however, these are wonderful people, with such inner strength.”
I have had many interactions with Merle since I received this first e-mail. Because of her commitment to the Lord and His call on her life, she inspires me to keep on doing what the Father has told me to do. To keep my eyes and ears focused on Him and not on others.
How about you?
Are you listening to what the Father tells you to do?
Are you willing to obey and follow what He tells you? If you are, you will be blessed beyond comprehension.
Father, You call us and are faithful to supply all our needs to do the work You want us to do. Amen.
by Katherine Kehler
used by permission
FURTHER READING
Learning to Listen | Thoughts about God by Max Lucado