ON THE STRESS OF MINISTRY

Before the foundations of the world were laid, God decreed righteous works for His saints, His chosen ones. We do not choose our ministry, God does. As submitted vessels we are all simply tools chosen for a task. The work is not ours, it is God’s. For easy tasks He gives us Grace, and for the very difficult tasks He gives us more Grace... His grace is always sufficient. So, if God places us in a place of great perplexity He gives us much guidance; in positions of great difficulty He gives much wisdom; in circumstances of great pressure and trial He gives much strength, for His resources are ours... for He is ours. It makes no matter to what work He calls us... this is His choice not ours, for no matter how easy or how difficult the task... He gives Grace. And Grace empowers what it commands.  If we are overwhelmed by our ministry... struggling in self-effort, we have very likely missed God’s plan and have embarked on Ishmael works. When yoked with Jesus our burden will be light... for He carries the load. All of this springs from the believer’s oneness with Jesus, He is the vine and we are the branches... we are part of Him. Herein lies the mystery of our “Oneness” with the Godhead: We are in Christ... Christ is in us... Christ is in the Father. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us for we are part of Him, Bone of His Bone, Flesh of His Flesh, members of His body. And the Vine... well, the Vine is not merely the root but it is All... root, stem, branches, twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit... All. Not only is the work the Lord’s, but He brings to the challenge all the power and provisioning of the Godhead. All we must do, and we must do this... is abide in Him.