God is always creating new things. What new things will He have us participate in? He creates by speaking His word and breathing His Spirit. This was how He created in the beginning and how He continues to create. “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). How can you participate in the creative things God is doing?
Our challenge is receiving new insights from God and being His creative agents. We live up to the challenge by observing with intentionality, listening intently and perceiving what He is saying; then responding purposefully and diligently in the fear of the LORD with progressive action.
RELEVANCE
The prophet Isaiah spoke some on this. He revealed good news. God gives insights into His plans to those open to receiving them.
“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
And new things I declare;
Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
(Isaiah 42:9)
“Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?”
(Isaiah 43:19)
What a chellenge! How shall we know it? By the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke about this. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
Paul was not only sensitive to the Holy Spirit; he remembered some of the earlier prophecies and connected with them. One which with he likely aligned his thinking was from Zechariah: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Our natural tendency is to do by our own might and power; but God would have us patiently and diligently pursue Him and yield to His Spirit. Yes– it takes learning of His nature and ways.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What have you been trying do or create in your own power, yet not succeeding?
In what areas have you been trying to be self-sufficient?
Ask God for the grace to shift your orientation and perspective; from focusing on your doing, to being who God created you to be so you can receive from the Holy Spirit His enlightenment and empowerment—what to do and how to do it.
REFERENCES
John 16:12-15