Prepared for Performance
The loving Lord knows how intimidating it can be for us to relate to other people, especially someone superior in ability or intellect or position, someone we don’t want to let down again, or someone who can change our career status with a snap of their fingers. But none of them outranks God, and he promises that he is part of the arrangement – the biggest part – when you relate to those people. Don’t be afraid.
Jesus wasn’t afraid. Oh, he should have been. He confronted his own friends, neighbors, and business associates about their misguided religious opinions. He condemned their false faith and compared them to the rebellious Israelites who bowed to idols. Although he consoled them by showing up in their synagogue and proclaiming himself to be their true Savior they would have nothing to do with it – or him. They rejected him and his message and tried to throw him off a cliff! But Jesus wasn’t afraid.
Equipped with the skills and opportunities he needed to carry out his assignment, Jesus performed perfectly. Set apart from eternity for his role as the Savior, Jesus performed perfectly. Even when the efforts of Jesus were met with criticism or all out rejected, Jesus performed perfectly because he was faithful to God and that’s what matters the most. Jesus performed perfectly … for you.
His perfect performance all the way to the cross is, by faith, your perfect forgiveness from all sins. His perfect performance under every one of God’s commands is, by faith, your perfect strength. Perfectly forgiven and fortified by Jesus, you are prepared for your best performance.
You don’t just do God’s work. You are God’s work!
Your phone rings. “Hi, I’m the producer of the biggest talent show in the world and we want you to win this year’s show, but you have to perform.”
“But I can’t sing,” you protest nervously. “Fine. Can you dance?” “No.”
“Can you juggle?” “No.”
“Can you eat a handful of
“What can you do?” “I can do anything God has planned for me. I can help, love, and serve anyone he puts in my life, at anytime he decides is best. Is that good enough?”
“That’s all I want,” God replies, pleased at your confident spirit of willing service. “You’re already a winner.”
When it comes to fulfilling God’s role for you in this world, there is no audition. You don’t put on stage makeup and step into the spotlight dreaming of making a big impression. Taking responsibility for that role is not an audition on your part but an already approved assignment from your loving Lord.
So this week when you are facing heavy responsibilities again, remember – you and God can do anything! He has prepared you for performance.
God has truly blessed our congregation with people with great skills. Those skills may not be dancing, juggling or eating bugs. They may be much simpler – greeting, ushering, or cleaning. They may be leading, motivating, or evangelizing. They may be coaching, cooking or computers. They may be singing, teaching, praying, or giving.
Whatever your God-given gifts are – I want to help you discover them and use them to God’s glory in the missions and ministries of Epiphany.
You won’t just be doing God’s work. You are God’s work!
Preparing you for performance,
Pastor Michael Zarling