Sons not Hirlings

I just love the way that God speaks to us. There is no confusion in truth. He speaks with one voice over and over until we catch on to His heart. I love the way God coordinates worship to bring through what is on His heart for His people at that specific time. Often we see in Church services or meetings how we sing songs on a certain line of thought, the prophetic word is flowing in the same vain and then we sit to listen or talk and hear the same message over again. God knows our simple minds!

I was in a staff meeting this week and as we were worshiping there was such a sense of Father God drawing us to Him with such intimacy, I couldn’t get away from a picture of Him drawing me close, by the hand to His side. As His Spirit came I was so aware of joy welling up to seek His heart and serve out of the overflow of my standing with Him. Truth came that God has done it all! The only thing we bring along to the party is to be there with Him and from that place He gives us the heart to serve.

• when I feel weak He draws me close and shows me that He is my strength.
  
• when I feel disillusioned, He draws me close and gives me eyes to see what He is doing.
  
• when I feel broken, He draws me close and reminds me that He is my healer; that he is my rebuilder and redeemer
  
• when I feel tired, He draws me close, lifts me up and gives me wings to soar on the heights.
  

We can often feel overwhelmed by the task set before us, for me I am seeing more and more that this is only when I take my eyes off my Father, my good shepherd and forget all His benefits! As I come to Him I remember again that He has done it all so that I can give my all!

We then moved on into a time of discussion based out of John 10:7-18 on Jesus our good shepherd. Wow! What amazing truth. Jesus chose to give His all for the sheep. He was not as the hirling who went so far and then said no more – but chose to give His all literally to rescue those under His care.

The challenge to us as leaders is to walk as Jesus did. A major key in how we do this is in how we view ourselves and our place in the team! I AM A SON! I have been called into the family of God. I am His special possession. Our experience of Father God is often so different to our experience of earthy fathers. We are His special delight. Our motivation to serve Him and His people is not out of some attempt to earn His love, but because our hearts are stirred to act as a love response to His passion toward us. Sadly we often fail to see this and view ourselves as the hirling – we feel an obligation to serve and so often we will be prepared to give of ourselves to a point, and then no further. We say,  “what you asking is too much”. I am learning that the reality of life is that nothing is too much when Father God asks of me. Why? Because He does not send me out with orders to fulfil, but says, “come my child lets work together on this one.” This understanding changes my view of giving of myself to build His beautiful Bride. What a joy it is to the Father and me as we co-labour, working hard for the glory of His name.

As a son I delight to be with my Father and carry out His heart. Not because I should as a dutiful child, but because I love to please Him, knowing it has no affect on His love for me, but just because I can. I delight in bringing joy to my Father. I have an inheritance with Him and I would give my all to fight for that.