Hebrews 13:20-21. 20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Why don’t Christians do the will of God?
Why don’t Christ’s disciples make disciples?
A common answer is that we simply don’t feel equipped for the task. But let me ask, do we actually believe that our savior didn’t equip us for the one job he asks us to do?
Yep. That is what many of us actually think.
But look at how the author of Hebrews prays for his church – May God…equip you…through Jesus Christ. The tense here makes it literally read – May God continue equipping you through Jesus Christ. Ongoing equipping by God in Christ!
So let me ask you, assuming it is God’s will that we trust him, love others, and make disciples (it is), what are we still lacking before we can begin to obey?
Or maybe we should ask the question another way – Is union with Christ all we need for doing God’s will or not? Or is God holding out on us? Is there a second blessing? Or third? Or fourth? Is it the indwelling life of the Spirit of Christ + more training, more classes, more programs, more time, more knowledge, more study? Or can every believer in Christ do God’s will and share their life with others, loving others, and making disciples?
Listen, I’m an educated discipleship pastor. So I am not anti-training, anti-study, anti-classes, or anti-programs. All of this “equipping” can and should be helpful. But have these things also created a road block to each and every Christian living the normal Christian life of “doing God’s will” through the equipping that is found in simply knowing the peace of Jesus who was brought forth (resurrected) from the dead? Yes, take a class. Yes, read a book. Yes, study, study, study God’s word. Yes, get trained in disciple making. But never, ever place your faith in these things. It is faith in the grace of God in Christ Jesus alone that works in us to “will and to work for God’s good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).
You see doing God’s will and making disciples is not about having all the knowledge and all the answers that go with it. It’s not about having your life all together. It’s not about sharing your vast wisdom and expressing your immense faith in front of others. It’s about being a lowly and humble sheep in need of constant grace. God’s will is that we love one another and make disciples. Discipleship is simply saying, “I’m a sheep. You’re a sheep. Let’s be sheep together.”
Are you equipped for that? Yes. You are. How do I know? Because you have the great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, living inside of you. Point to him. Not yourself. Point to the Shepherd. Point to his death and resurrection. Point to his eternal covenant. Point to “to live is Christ.”
You
Would you say you’re equipped to do God’s will? Why or why not?
You in Christ
Union with Christ is meant to bring peace not stress. Does doing God’s will still stress you out? What might you be failing to believe?
Christ in you
Where can you do God’s will today and love another “sheep?”
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Playlist: Equipped In Christ.
Click Here to this playlist on Spotify!
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To see today’s post from the TLIC Family blog –> Click Here
To Live is Christ 