God is perfect. He already knows what He can and would do in any and every situation, which is why He is not more involved in the world than He is. God is not interested in knowing what He could do with this hurting world. He already knows.

God also knows what He has put in each and every one of us. He know our potential, but He wants to see our reactions. What we can do and what we will do is the ultimate display of who any of us really are. The hurting, the poor, the naked, the hungry. They are not God’s problem, nor God’s creation (positionally speaking), they are ours.

The world is ours. In Genesis 1:26 God put us in charge of everything, then He rested. The task was delegated to us. It can be overwhelming to see what we have caused as a human race, but it is better to realize the potential that is still in all of us. None of us can change the decisions which brought us to where we are, but we can make a plan to change what we will do right NOW.

(I’m not trying to be theologically correct here, but make a point, so bear with me): Some time ago, I decided if I’ve messed up so bad, and am too goofed up to make it into heaven, I’d be a fool to just accept it. I’m going to do my best today, and every day after, to do what I know to be the best. I will serve the Lord with everything within me and go kicking and screaming into hell, but at least I will have done my best to help others on my journey.

I hope that makes sense to you, and that you will decide today to do your best. Make your difference. Lift up someone whose fallen. Feed someone whose hungry. Clothe someone whose naked. Visit someone in prison. There are both the physical and emotion aspects of these kinds of people. Either one will make a difference in that life–whether you meet the physical or emotional need.

You may not have the complete answer, nor the complete healing. Don’t let that stop you. Do what you can. If it isn’t enough, so what . . . you did what you could. NOW go take dominion over what God has already given you dominion over!

Jeffrey

Obedience is self abandon. As Dr. Mike Murdock so aptly says, "Submission does not begin until agreement ends." Obedience is submission to an instruction. What has God spoken that I have not submitted to? Has any one else given me an instruction I have not followed? The heart of obedience is in submission.

Authority is the right to give an instruction and expect it to be followed. Submission is the recognition of the right of the authority, and choosing to honor the authority by the act of obedience. Intention, while important at every level, is not submission nor obedience. The intention to submit is not submission. The intention to obey is not obedience. I can hide rebellion by saying my intention was good even though I did not do the act of obedience, but in the end I was rebellious to the instruction and to the authority who gave it.

I should never justify my wrong motives or intentions, nor should I allow them to take precedence over obedience. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is not my optimal goal, but not doing the right thing because of a wrong intention is rebellion. I can choose to submit to an authority even if I do not have the desire to submit. God will honor the submission, and will help my intentions become more pure if I am honest with myself and willing to come into God’s Presence for His transforming grace.

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. (KJV)

Jeffrey C. Tratt 2009-09-06