I Can't "Be" Everything To Everyone

Ugh.“God, it’s me again.”“Yes, my son?”“Am I doing enough?…I mean, when I look in the mirror, there are times when I just flat out pale in comparison to what Your Word tells me You desire me to be, to Your glory.”“Son, I’m well aware of who and what you are. I ordained your life knowing long before you were even born that you’d have these struggles, this inner turmoil, this wrestling match with your flesh.”“So what should I do, then, Dad?”“Relax…you’re not my only child. There are many others laboring beside you to My glory.”I read the Bible a lot, but not enough. I love others a lot, but not enough. I care about others, people I don’t even know, but not enough. It never seems like it’s enough…well, at least not to me, anyways. So most days are filled with the basic realization that I’m a failure. And it’s true - I fail every day in just about every possible way. Heck, some of the thoughts I have are so foreign to my new nature that I have to stop and ask myself, “Now where in the world did that thought come from?!!!” Ugh.A long time ago, I resigned to the fact that nothing I ever do will be perfect, for one particular reason.I’m not perfect.Phew! What a blessing it is to be reminded of this. Seriously. My heart wants to be perfect, for Christ’s sake, not even my own, strictly speaking. But ironically, it’s Christ, Himself, the living Word, who stands before me as the perfect standard, reminding me that I’ll never be just like Him…at least not in this life. However, the same Book that convicts me of my perceived shortcomings is the same one that assures me that it’s Christ’s righteousness my Father sees in me. Thank God!!!If I can’t be perfect, like Christ, then what can I be for Him? Can I be good enough?…is that even the right question to be asking? With the Spirit’s help, I can do good, though never perfectly, it seems. Heck, I’m so flawed that I need Him to intercede for me when I pray to my Father in Heaven!In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.I’m so weak I can’t even pray without mucking it up somehow! It’s true. And I’m glad.Huh?“That’s right, I’m glad, Dad…I’m glad I’m weak and pathetic and needy…I’m glad I’m not perfect…I’m glad I can’t do this without someone who is perfect helping me!”“Good, my son…I’m glad you see it that way. Just look at how I used my other son, Paul, and be encouraged.”And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.“Do you love Me, my son?”“Abba, Father…You know I do!”“Then remember the Word that I’ve given you.”And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“But Dad, there are so many commands, so many things that I haven’t been able to even address in life. I seem so caught up in being a pastor, a husband, a father, a laborer, a friend…and yet, there’s so much more to do on earth…so many soils to cultivate! It just seems futile sometimes…overwhelming.”“My son, not even the Perfect One, the ‘Son of Man’, Jesus Christ, was able to be everything to everyone in the most practical sense. You are a husband, but He was never married, nor did He have any children in His humanity. My beloved Paul was the same. Some of My commands never even applied to them, personally. Do you think I’m any less satisfied with their lives because of such things? May it never be!”“So what You’re saying, Father, is that even though I realize there are a lot of things You desire to be done, to Your glory, I cannot assume responsibility for them all. What You’re saying is that I need to trust that I can’t be everything to everyone…and that You’re totally fine with that. Right?”“Yes, my son, you are correct. In fact, it isn’t my will that you ever feel ashamed of who you are in Christ. I want you to focus on the things that you can be by grace. I want you to be encouraged, not discouraged. You’re imperfect, we both know this, but your love is blossoming and I, and even My angels, see you bearing good fruit. For now, that is all I can ask of you. You’ll be perfected soon enough; I’ve already predestined you to that end. Be patient, son, and allow My Word to comfort you.”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”“You’re welcome. Anytime. I loved you first (wink wink).”

Love in Christ,

Ed Collins