As a mother of 15 children, it never ceases to amaze me how oblivious children can be to things and situations around them. Children can be very aware of the world, but, generally speaking, only when they perceive that the things around them apply to them or when they have some interest held in what is going on around them. Even when I teach my kids about the things that they should take care of and show them how it affects them (negatively and positively), it seems that it just doesn’t really sink in until they reach a point where they actually desire to affect outcomes themselves. My desire for them to affect outcomes isn’t enough. They have to be willing-no, wanting-to seek those outcomes on their own. It is only then that they start to notice things. They start to notice things that they have to change about themselves. They start to notice the obstacles in their lives that are holding them back from what they really want to accomplish. They start to notice the tools that they are missing in their lives that would help them accomplish things more effectively. They start to develop systems that streamline their efforts. When they reach that point, while I am happy to help them and guide them along, I no longer need to try to motivate them. Their motivation comes from within and they rarely need me to point out the things to which they were oblivious before.
These things are greatly magnified when my children develop the ability to see beyond themselves and realize that they can positively influence the outcomes of the lives of those around them, too. The highest and noblest form of this comes when we realize that God is more interested in these outcomes than we can even begin to imagine and that being in His service is the means by which we can affect the greatest outcomes.
In prayer this morning, I expressed my desire to the Lord to be more involved in His work. He told me that the things that I needed to do would be all around me, but that I would be oblivious to them if my desire to learn about and to do His work does not take the highest priority in my life. Moreover, being in His service requires a stronger connection to Him than what I have now. The better the connection, the better and more acceptable my service will be. It is good to be doing all that I can at the level to which I have progressed, but it is better to always be seeking a higher level of truth so that I can be a more profitable servant. I need to continue to search out His mysteries and works and receive them at His hand if I am to better understand and participate in them.
From John 15:
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
See that in verse 5? “...without me ye can do nothing.” That doesn’t mean that we literally aren’t able to do anything. It means that our efforts are wasted on things that are not efficacious. Dead branches on trees are cut off and burned because they are of no worth to the tree. We are dead when we don’t abide in Him and when his words don’t abide in us. But when we do abide in Him and His words abide in us, His will becomes ours and when we ask for things we receive them. This is how the Father is glorified-in the fruit that we bear-and we are counted as the Lord’s disciples.
May all the servants of God seek to be less spiritually oblivious. May they desire to be more aware of how to be effective in His kingdom in these last days. May they gain a greater understanding of His purposes and works. May they gain strength and glory in His service.