Hebrews 13:17-25
Be Still: Father, thank you for your presence with me, thank you that you are speaking to me and love me. Quiet my heart now and help me to listen to you. Amen
Read: Hebrews 13:17-25
Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (v20-21)
Encounter: It has been suggested that there is a ‘confidence gap’ between men and women when it comes to job applications. Research indicates that men tend to overestimate their skills and performance, whereas women tend to underestimate theirs. We know for certain that most people are reluctant to apply for a job if they feel they can only match 80% or less of the criteria required. The common understanding is that we need to be fully equipped before we can apply.
Apply: While living out our faith is not the same as taking on a job role, sometimes we show a lack of confidence: ‘I’m not a good enough Christian, not theological enough or holy enough, I don’t pray enough – I don’t even read Bread every day!’. The problem with this attitude is that it stops us stepping into everything that Jesus has for us. It means we can count ourselves out when Jesus is counting us in.
There is an old saying – ‘He doesn’t call the equipped… he equips the called.’ That is you and me: called to live out this life of faith. Called to grow a little bit every day as we follow Jesus, listening to his voice, learning who he is and how he wants us to live, love, work, serve, celebrate, give – knowing his life in all its fullness!
You may feel you are not the perfect Christian. Let me tell you: you’re not! And neither am I. But it doesn’t matter, because Jesus is quite capable of equipping us in every way for all that he is calling us into. Our job is to learn to listen to the quiet promptings of his Holy Spirit in our everyday life, trusting he will equip us with everything we need.
Devote: Lord Jesus thank you that you have every gift, skill, resource, and piece of wisdom that I need. Please increase my confidence in you today and help me hear your voice calling me to service.