By Mark Maher
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
“Whoever wants to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow me.” (Luke 9:42) Christ calls us to walk by faith, and this is contrary to walking by sight. So we lose the need to know “why” and gain the spirit of “what’s next.” How can I best serve Christ in my current situation?
What is your response? It’s not what happens to you. It’s what God will do through you. Your life has been laid down. You’re putting yourself above Christ. What does Christ want you to do now?
The sooner we surrender and become the Lord’s prisoner, will be the moment our eyes become awoken to see HIS purpose realized in us. Now we begin to do life a different way. We see the God opportunities all around us. We see the hurting. And we don’t just sit back and observe it, we do something about it.
You must follow every opportunity for the Lord. You are a prisoner for the Lord. You are a seed sower, walking in obedience following His will, and not your own. Many faith opportunities will present themselves; say no to none of them. You are a prisoner for the Lord.
Your will should be laid down. How can you say no to Christ? You are a prisoner for the Lord. A servant. You don’t get to say no. What’s next? Who can I help today? Lord, bring them to me, and I’ll recognize it. You’ll give me eyes to see it.
Be like the good Samaritan and don’t walk by the hurting. Our response should follow a distinct pattern, and that pattern consistently involves showing up for others. See it, respond. Who are the helpers? We’re not self seeking. We don’t “protect our time.” We pour it all out and die empty. It starts in our family, and then bleeds out to all we know.
Some of us get it twisted and think we have a say. We think we get to pick and choose. It’s not a lukewarm faith. It’s an all in faith. We are prisoners for the Lord. It’s complete surrender. We release asking “why” and simply “respond.”
As long as the Lord has empty vessels, who are wholly yielded to Him, He pours out His Spirit. “For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.” (John 3:34). But when the vessels have been filled, we pour out what we have because we cannot contain the presence of God inside of us. It overflows out of us. “Out of our hearts will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)
We are not meant to merely make it through life. We are supposed to live a life to the fullest. Jesus, the source of love, peace, joy, lives in you. The Spirit of God does not fit your schedule. His spirit will stir you when you least expect it. You don’t get ready for Christ. You don’t get your act together first. You step out in faith and He equips you as you go. The difference is one requires faith. See the opportunity and “respond.” My advice is not to think about it too much, just recognize you are a “prisoner for the Lord.” You are a seed sower, walking by faith, a servant for Christ, through the spirit of humility, and strong love for Christ, you have laid down your will. Pre-decide to say “yes” when the next opportunity arises.
Often times our place of ministry is found in our greatest pain. I pray that Christ will give you the strength to share your story which through Christ has the power to heal you and your story will have the power to heal somebody else. We connect to people through our brokenness, it’s not in our strength. The first step in ministry is to become vulnerable and available.
