It’s pretty exciting when you get a chance to see how God works through us firsthand.
Last week, I attended the third and final session for Lifework Leadership, a curriculum for Christian marketplace leaders to clarify their calling, challenge their mind, and engage their hearts for service. These executive retreats were to expose local business leaders to the program and seek their support for bringing the ministry to Birmingham.
As the session started, we reviewed leadership principles Jesus embodied as he inspired and mobilized his disciples and followers into a force that would ultimately change the world.
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them ahead to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’” (from Luke 10:1-2)
Jesus could have chosen to get his work done in many ways, but he worked through a collection of ordinary people to accomplish his mission. And, today, God could choose to transform our workplaces, homes, churches, and communities on his own if he wanted to.
But, he doesn’t do it that way. God works through us.
Experiencing God
The speaker I had been looking forward to was Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God. Like millions of others around the world, I have been significantly impacted by his teachings which include:
- God is always at work around you.
“Become a partner with God in what he is doing.”
- God invites you to become involved in His work.
“Be faithful in a few things.”
- You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” (Matthew 25:23)
God Works Through Us
During the retreat, we were inspired by a number of examples of how God works through us:
God invites us to become involved with Him in His work – Recently, the local Jewish Community Center had received a series of bomb threats. But, God was at work in the situation, and a faithful response to his invitation to get involved led to the Birmingham Christian community donating over $100,000 to help their Jewish brothers remain safe.
God works through us as we follow our calling – Eddy Moratin related the compelling story of Orlando leaders who banded together to break the cycle of poverty in the city, and his journey showed how God uses our gifts, longings, and circumstances to lead us to serve those in need.
God works through us as we show obedience – Grant Skeldon called on older generations to reach out to disciple Millennials. He showcased the clear mandate Jesus issued with the Great Commission—not the Great Recommendation—to “go and make disciples.” There is only one variable in that commission: our obedience.
God works through us as we seek to follow Jesus – Steve French took us through the Jesus Journey, a chronological study dedicated to transforming the lives of Christian marketplace leaders. We discussed the role of courage in making business decisions, and we saw the opportunity we are given to create a lasting legacy.
God works through groups of like-minded leaders – Lifework Leadership uses principles of Jesus to transform leaders who, in turn, transform their cities. The leaders in that retreat last week were challenged to do just that for the city of Birmingham by casting a vote of support for the ministry.
Each person there considered that invitation, and each made the choice of how to respond. The results? To a person, the group was 100% unanimous in its positive support.
Yes, indeed, God works through us.
Question: What is one way you feel that God works through you?
Action: This week, be alert to notice how God is at work around you.
