このページは日本語では利用できません.
"By myself I can do nothing." John 5:30 NIV
As an oblivious world approached its first Christmas, an angel of the Lord told Mary the amazing news of what God planned to do through her. (Luke 1) She was to give birth to the Son of the Most High without the involvement of a human father. The angel reassured her with the words, "For nothing is impossible with God."
I love Mary's response: "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said." In other words, if God wanted to do the impossible through her she was available, no matter how incredible it seemed.
This speaks to us today because God still wants to do His work through His people. It is not so much that we need to petition Him to convince Him to do something. Rather God is the One wanting to do something. He is simply looking for available people through whom He can do it. Whatever God is asking of us, may our response be as Mary's: "I am the Lord's servant; may it be to me as you have said."
When God wants to do a work He reveals His purposes to those who have chosen to do the Father's will over their own. Our great example is our Lord Jesus who did nothing on His own initiative. Hear what He says: "I only do what I see the Father doing." ... "I came to do the will of My Father." ... "I glorified Thee on earth having done what You gave Me to do."
If Jesus wouldn't do anything on His own initiative, how much less should we? We need to get our work and plans from God. This means spending much time in prayer inquiring of Him and finding what He wants us to do. The more we seek His will, the more He delights to work through us. We don't want to be simply busy for God but doing our own plans. That would be wasted effort - nothing more than wood, hay and stubble.
As we get our work from God, let us not limit Him through unbelief and low expectations. Let's not attempt only those things that seem possible. As the angel reminded Mary, nothing is impossible with God. The prophet Jeremiah said something similar years earlier. "Ah Lord God...there is nothing too hard for You." (Jer 32:17)
Colin Stott
Global Prayer Coordinator