“Jesus Has Worked It All Out”

II Corinthians 8:1-9

1) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4) Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5)  And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6) Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7) Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8) I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Preface

T

he reason that Man finds himself having such a problem being saved is because it is always easier to do that which is “natural.” The simplest explanation for this is simply because of “who” we are. The “who” is called the “natural being” and it is this being that is “catered to” by society—both secular and religious.

Up until John the Baptist, it was physically dangerous to serve the lord. Now, since Paul, it is a “press” to make it to God; to do what is spiritual and not fleshly. Absolutely anybody can “spout off” or “hit back.” But, we, as Children of God, can “hold our peace.”

Main Thought

Situation arise in our lives that are difficult for us because we lack solutions for them. Most often, this is because we do not really look for solutions. Rather, all that we see is the problem! Part of the reason for this is that human beings are, by birth, selfish. Therefore, we want things to “go” as easily as possible. How does this relate to our seeing “problems” rather than “solutions?” Well, our preferred “solutions” are those that make situations resolve in our favor as quickly as possible. If we look for God’s solutions, we might find that we have to wait in order to learn something.

Being “tested” does not mean that anyone has “left” us. Tests are presented to us in order that we might learn to trust God. How can this be done and do we mean that we are to trust Him in all situations? “Yes,” He can be trusted implicitly because He “…has (already) worked it (all) out!”

Our biggest problem is being dissatisfied because of what we do not like. What we identify as not to our liking causes us to react against in the flesh—and this keeps us exactly where the devil wants us.

Since we are in no position to ever know what it is that we need, we cannot judge what we “go through” compared to that with which others must “deal.” In that we belong to the Lord, it is not up to us to make the “call” on our life.

Because all tasks (in and for the Lord) are not “equal,” all tests are not equal. Therefore, our task is to concentrate on “passing” ours as opposed to worrying about the “quality” of the tests of others. You see, as we are strengthened in the Lord “…from faith (experience) to faith (experience),” we are brought to the point where He can get the greatest use from us.

Interfering in our personal “growth” is the “Church Mentality” that tells us that “since we all profess to be saved, we all have to do the same thing to get to the same level.” Not so! You see, neither who we are, not who we think we are has anything to do with God’s “chosen path” for us. He “calls the shots” according to what He has “put into” us, what He knows is already in us and the “potential” He knows to which we will yield. (Just as an example, if one’s “call” is to those “more difficult,” the one called to go to them will have to endure and learn “more” than one not having the same “call.”)

Many of us erroneously believe that we would endure our tests better if they came from “sinners” as opposed to those whom we identify as “saints.” This has no basis in truth, for the Lord must bring out the “worst” in us in order that He might instill the “best” in us.

It would help us immeasurably if we would accept that nothing put in our path by the enemy can stop (affect) what God has for us to do. There is no limit of “space” in the kingdom of God and no “hierarchy” of importance. If God were to “grade,” His grades would be based solely on how well each individual performs the task set before him.

How are we to maintain our belief that “Jesus has worked it all out” when it seems that situations are not “fixed” by Him as quickly as we would like? What we need to remember is that we have a “preference” simply because we are looking for “peace of mind” and the quicker the “resolution,” the better. However, “God’s work comes first” and therefore, even our “comfort” is not worthy of a “preference.”

It should mean something to us that the God Whom we serve has “…worked it all out.” What exactly should it mean? It should mean that since He has done it all, He knows it all. So, Who better to give us direction?