Have you ever second-guessed whether or not you are really making a difference for the Lord? Do you ever teach a class, but feel so inadequate to do so? Have you done mission work and wondered if your efforts really brought sustainable change?
We live in a result driven culture where success and effectiveness are very important. This is just a reality. If we aren't able to see and measure sustainable growth, it often feels like we have failed or at least the rest of the world perceives that we have failed. And I think this fear of failure makes a lot of people give up or maybe even never even try in the first place. And if our leaders lack passion and confidence because of fear of failure or feelings of inadequacy, I don't believe our ministries will be as "effective" and accomplish the "results" that God has for us.
A parable that gives me encouragement and confidence is when Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. So rest in the following truths:
We live in a result driven culture where success and effectiveness are very important. This is just a reality. If we aren't able to see and measure sustainable growth, it often feels like we have failed or at least the rest of the world perceives that we have failed. And I think this fear of failure makes a lot of people give up or maybe even never even try in the first place. And if our leaders lack passion and confidence because of fear of failure or feelings of inadequacy, I don't believe our ministries will be as "effective" and accomplish the "results" that God has for us.
A parable that gives me encouragement and confidence is when Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed. So rest in the following truths:
- The kingdom of heaven, which will undoubtedly be the kingdom that reigns over all and is beyond comparison, began with humble beginnings. Can you imagine the reaction to the announcement that the Messiah has come to establish His kingdom and then they saw a group of men that amounted to 13 people (12 disciples and Jesus). It was completely counter-cultural to what was expected. And then we see in Acts 1:15, after a few years had passed, that there were 120 followers in the upper room before Pentecost. And then this movement that started so small began erupting. God was adding to their numbers daily. And in 2017 it is estimated that there are approximately 2.2 billion Christians in the world. That's over 183 million times more than where it started.
- The catalyst for this exponential growth was humble believers relying on the power of the Holy Spirit just like you and me. Do you feel inadequate and unqualified? Well so were the founders of the church. But what they all had in common was great faith and trust in the power of God. Then, they boldly testified about Him. The power of God living inside you qualifies you and makes you adequate to fulfill His purposes. Don't dare start implying that it is based on your own ability.
- The growth and success of the church took place in ways that contrast what we typically define as growth. When so many were getting saved in Jerusalem and the church was growing vertically, the Lord allowed persecution and the killing of Stephen to scatter the church. But what this did was to help the church grow horizontally and accomplish the commission in Acts 1:8 that disciples would be made in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. I hope that our youth group grows greatly numerically, because that means you are expanding your influence and the kingdom. But I believe that it would be much more effective for the kingdom if I am sending my youth out to their jobs and universities ready to go and make disciples. If even half of my students become disciple makers wherever they go after college and they begin to lead Bible studies and teach others about Christ, then the impact in the overall kingdom of God is far greater!