Hey, see this rock on the left? That verse is many people's favorite verse in the Bible. I love it myself. It is wholly true.
But people it doesn't mean we are supposed to do everything asked of us.
It doesn't have "So do everything" tacked on the end.
I think I like how Jesus said it better. He said "With People it is impossible but with God, all things are possible."
That takes the emphasis off me and puts it back where it needs to be -- on God!
I don't know if I think I need to do all things but there are certain situations when people are involved that I don't want to say no to them. Well, I do, but I don't. I want to help but we can't do everything. There is a limit to our physical strength.
Another verse Paul wrote kind of balances the one above out. In Colossians 1:11 he writes, "strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience."
The focus is on the inner person not our deeds.
But people it doesn't mean we are supposed to do everything asked of us.
It doesn't have "So do everything" tacked on the end.
I think I like how Jesus said it better. He said "With People it is impossible but with God, all things are possible."
That takes the emphasis off me and puts it back where it needs to be -- on God!
I don't know if I think I need to do all things but there are certain situations when people are involved that I don't want to say no to them. Well, I do, but I don't. I want to help but we can't do everything. There is a limit to our physical strength.
Another verse Paul wrote kind of balances the one above out. In Colossians 1:11 he writes, "strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience."
The focus is on the inner person not our deeds.
We can "do all things with love" for sue. We can always be patient and kind and gentle. We never need to be harsh or impatient or self-centered. We have no excuse to not act like Christ. We have no excuse to not love as Christ Jesus loves.
That is where the focus should be -- not on doing everything others want us to do.
So, guess what I gotta do very soon? I have to tell someone I hold dear No. I have to tell this person I can't be what this person wants me to be. I can't do what this person wants me to do.
I agonized over this Monday night. I wanted (and still do) to be able to fill this need in this person's life but I can't. Well, actually I could but it would not be good for me or my family and it would take strength from me that should be used for the things God has for me to do.
We each have limits physically and emotionally. We need to understand what our limits are and plan accordingly. If we use up our strength to please people, how will we have the strength to do the things God calls us to do?
Sometimes this is difficult because people often don't understand. Maybe they see your days and think it is no big deal to do what they want you to do. They think what they see is all there is when in fact it isn't.
It's hard to be misunderstood but Jesus was and is, and He was content in it. We can be too.
That is where the focus should be -- not on doing everything others want us to do.
So, guess what I gotta do very soon? I have to tell someone I hold dear No. I have to tell this person I can't be what this person wants me to be. I can't do what this person wants me to do.
I agonized over this Monday night. I wanted (and still do) to be able to fill this need in this person's life but I can't. Well, actually I could but it would not be good for me or my family and it would take strength from me that should be used for the things God has for me to do.
We each have limits physically and emotionally. We need to understand what our limits are and plan accordingly. If we use up our strength to please people, how will we have the strength to do the things God calls us to do?
Sometimes this is difficult because people often don't understand. Maybe they see your days and think it is no big deal to do what they want you to do. They think what they see is all there is when in fact it isn't.
It's hard to be misunderstood but Jesus was and is, and He was content in it. We can be too.
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