If they hated me they will hate you. If
they kept my word they will also keep yours. This is a cause for hope
as well as a word of caution. Christ tells us that those who hated
Christ will continue to hate him in you. But there are also those
whose hearts are ready to receive Him and yet they wait for you to
come to them. Then when you do come to them Christ will be there
for that person as well.
The Acts of the Apostles relates this
notion to us. Paul and Timothy desired to go to a number of places
but they could not on account of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't until a
dream told Paul that Macedonia needed him that he was allowed to
continue. When we mold our ministry and evangelization according to
our wishes it's likely that we won't reach our goal. When we
listen to the Spirit and go where it leads us we will be doing God's
work in a greater capacity.
Discerning God's call can be difficult,
but one manner of discerning His will is seeing what is available to
us. Paul never took extraneous means to preach God's word. When he
was traveling to communities already established he uplifted his
brethren in those communities. When he came to a place in need of
Christ's message he proclaimed it. And when he was thrown in prison
he preached the Word in prison. Part of doing what God intends for us
doesn't require any great plans on our part, it comes from bringing
Him with you wherever you go. If you are a mother have Christ with
you. If you pray for others, place them before His altar. If you
labor during the day, keep His precepts with you.
In this way Christ will be alongside
you and in living this way you will come to know the Spirit's will.
As you grow in Him the Spirit will lead you to where you need to go.
Do not abandon where you are in hopes of doing more. If the Spirit
desires more he will bring more to you. Realize that 'no slave is
greater than his master.' Christ was obedient to the will of the
Father, doing His will one place at a time. With that same trust and
obedience, let us do the same.
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This is a reflection I gave today (5/4/2013). The readings may be found here. Please comment. If you've like what you've read, please +1 it, as it helps me! ~M
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