Transforming lives, mine included, or those within my sphere, represents one of my core values. We all share a profound wish to impact our world. Sadly, it is when a person feels like they cannot make a positive difference, they often turn to making a negative difference by becoming an addict or hurting someone in their path of life.
I eagerly await any indication, however subtle, that I’ve effected a transformation. Reflecting on my history, I hope to find instances where divine purpose empowered me to effect change. But I can’t see the end product. Time often erases potentially significant shifts. My best efforts were directed toward God, not toward changing things; this consolation prevented my defeat.
Did Jesus experience such emotions? Thousands of years after He lived, died, and ascended into heaven, we can vividly see the huge changes He made with His life AND death, AND resurrection. Was His human side’s experience such when He embodied both deity and personhood? Consider His experience: He was tempted in all respects like ourselves. (Hebrews 4:15) We rarely consider His feelings during temptation as we experience them .
We read little about Him feeling like He wasn’t making a difference. He wouldn’t complain? Why? He was focused on Him relationship with His Father and wouldn’t allow all He felt to be verbalized. So do we know if His humanity ever struggled with feeling like a failure?
Isaiah penned a complex passage with unclear references to the individuals involved. However, it is commonly accepted that the conversation written in Isaiah 49:1-5 was prophetically written as between God the Father and the Messiah while on earth. Among what was exchanged there, verses 3-4 read, “And he [Father God] said to me [Jesus, the Son], ‘You [Jesus, the Son] are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified. ’But I [Jesus, the Son] said, ‘I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.’ Isaiah 49:3-4 (ESV) Reading that made me weep! Our Lord truly felt as you and I and essentially said, ‘I am leaving it all in Your (Father) hands. I will trust You (Father) for my reward.’
Unfortunately, we humans are trained to focus on rewards for our efforts. Our objective will dictate the reward. That reward may be anything from approval or acceptance, feeling loved, to a paycheck—or a significant change. This exchange Isaiah prophetically wrote teaches me I must work out of love for my God instead of a reward from man.
Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 (ESV). He again wrote, “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:22-25 (ESV)
I will let my rewards come from God alone!