Partnership

“Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Those are words that I look forward to hearing at some point from Jesus.  I am the type of person that enjoys words of affirmation.  I think it’s my “love language”, at least one of them!  Honestly, I begin to fill with pride when I hear preachers refer to this and that is sad to me.  

Yes! I do want God, my Father, to be proud of me.  See me, His son, and congratulate me!  Enjoy the blessings of God.  The problem is, I stop reading right there.  I don’t let Jesus finish the story He is telling those around Him.  The Message words it like this, “Good work! You did your job well.  From now on be my partner.”

Again, I have to be honest, I have a tendency to be lazy.  When things seem hard or I don’t see the solution immediately, I give up.  So, the thought of being a partner with Jesus gets a little scary sometimes.  I know I am called to keep moving in Christ, but sometimes it’s hard and very uncomfortable!  I begin to relate to the last guy in the story.  

I hope you see how quickly focusing on Jesus, the risen King of Glory, can shift to focusing on me.  No longer looking at the one who calms the storm but seeing the waves and feeling the wind!  When we give our lives over to Jesus, Satan has lost us, but the father of lies doesn’t just walk away.  We find ourselves in a fight!

Here is the key - the Holy Spirit!  We are not alone.  I want to challenge each of us.  Today, as you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and mind! To guard your heart and filter your thoughts - to fight on your behalf!  There is work to be done.  A battle to fight - today we fight in the Name of Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit!