Will You Do This for Me?

Will You Do This for Me?

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons @ creativedc

Recently, my pastor said he needed to talk with me. We talked within view of his wife (one of my dearest friends) and he asked if I would be willing to do something for him. He explained what it was and the reason he was asking, then told me to take the time I needed to think and pray about it. The truth is, I knew what my answer would be before he even asked.

How could I say yes before I even knew the request?

Because I trust my pastor more than I trust myself. Don’t get me wrong. He isn’t perfect. In fact, he’s quite honest about his weaknesses. Of course, his humility makes his weaknesses anything but. When my pastor asked me to do something for him, I knew he would have:

Prayed about it. He would have sought the Lord fervently before ever bringing it to my attention. I knew he would have asked his wife to pray as well.

Determined it was necessary. My pastor asked me to do something that he wouldn’t have had it not been important.

Considered my needs. Had he thought it would be detrimental to me or my family, he wouldn’t have asked.

I also knew that he would leave the decision to me. He would never insist that I do something, even if it was the right thing to do.

The whole discussion in which I agreed to help my pastor without a second thought didn’t surprise me. What surprised me is realizing that I don’t have the same no-reservations agreement to doing things for my Lord and Savior. Yet:

The Holy Spirit would never ask me to do anything outside the Father’s will.

He would never ask me to do something if it weren’t necessary.

He would never ask me to do something that He couldn’t use for my good.

And He would always leave the decision to me. 

From now on, when the Holy Spirit seeks to have a conversation with me, my answer–to the best of my ability–will be yes.

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. (1 John 2:5-6)

How about you? Are there people you would do anything for, but are there things you’ve been reluctant to do for God?

 

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