When God lets us go.
Good morening . God is great isn’t He. He picks you up when your down. He comforts you when your in pain. He heals you when your hurt . He let’s you go on your own when He wants to see how you handle things. WHAT! Yes , He let’s us go . But He is always with us, He is always there for us. How can ,why does He let us go? This is a little strange from what we are tought to think about our Father in Heaven. In 2nd Chronicles 32:31 tells us that “...God left him (Hezekiah) to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.” NIV. God left him to see what was in his heart. Just as He does us as we grow in Christ and our relationship with Father , He will not only test us but will stand back and watch us to see what we will do.
Remember when you were first learning to ride a bike and the training wheels had just been taken off. For some of us our dad was there ,others mom, and others a relitive or friend but that first time we started pedeling and they held on to the back of the seat . Comforting you and asuring you that they would be there. As they walked with you and you kept telling them “ don’t let go .” You had faith that they would not let go . You trusted them with all your might that they would not let go . Your faith in them was so great that you didn’t even realize that they let you go . You rode that bike by yourself ,still thinking that they were holding on to you . Having faith in them . They were still there , they were still watching you . They were within a few steps from you but you were rideing by yourself . That is what God does . He has our training wheels on when we are being tought something new from Him . We are a little shakey just like Peter in the boat when Jesus was on the water he had faith in Jesus that he stepped out on the water . He had faith that Jesus would not let him sink . But then the storm started to blow and Peter let his faith that Jesus would not let him go , disapere. He started to think of the things of this world . He ,just like us when we took that first bike ride, started out fine , having total faith in Jesus that He would not let Peter drown, Just like we had faith that they would not let us go . Then the storms came just like the storms of life come and although Jesus was still there ,He stayed there . He let Peter come to Him in faith.
What happened when we finnaly realized that we were on our own. We did ok for a few seconds but eventualy it set in that we were on our own and the realities of what might happen like a crash came in , just like the storms surrounding Peter . We then fell . Our parent was there and ran to you . They checked you over and mabey kissed the boo boo on your knee and they conforted you . Just as God does . He let’s us go from time to time , always watching us , but just off on the sideline . He watches us to see what we will do . Will we do His work or get caught up in our world and fall. When we do fall He is always there to comfort us. He is there to kiss the boo boo on our knee. He is there to show you how pround He is that you made this little journey on you oun . That He knew you could do it.
He wanted you to do this on your own so that you will grow . Just as when you were on that bike you learned how to ride . You then rode it all the time . You could do this ,then you were introduced to the bigger bikes when you had mastered your first one. Just as with the first one you were a little shakey but not all that bad . You had the basics of how to ride but this was a different bike . Just as when we get good at the things God sets for us , He get’s us that bigger bike. The bigger bike is a little bit awkward ,but you are familer with how it works. He will give you something that He knows will be a chalange at first but knows you have the basics of how it works.
As we grow , this is how we get stronger and more mature in Him. We read more of His word . We pray more to Him . We see more of His will for our lives. We talk to Him more. This is what we are put down here for . To do His will . We are His servants not He is ours. He is the Father of us and we are His children . He wants us to learn and grow. He wants us to try new things and more chalangeing things . He wants us to be active in HIM , not just comeing to service and absorbing a sermon . He wants you to take what you learn and apply it , build His Kingdom . How can we do that you ask? By witnessing . You can witness at your office simply by reading your Bible on your break ( or are you already doing that), you can witness by starting a prayer at you lunch table. You can witness by listening to what God says instead of what co-workers are saying at the watertower. When people see you doing these things they ask questions . They want to know why your doing that . When you live your life for Him , He will be in you . Others will see , and may ask you about Him. That is how you witness . Oh of course by knocking on doors is also great too.
How are we going to do all these things , by faith. When you have faith these will come natural to you. Jesus sometimes we read told some of those that He healed to “ go and tell noone about this” . He wants our faith . If the people told others “look what Jesus did to me , I am proof that He is the Son of God “ then they would not have had faith to believe but proof . Jesus does not want our faith to be from what we see. Our Faith does not grow when we only see proof .It get’s assured , but our faith doesn’t grow. Our faith grows when we trust in God for what He wants . Our faith grow because we trust God . Our faith will be rewarded but it grows from trust not proof. If they were to find Noah’s arc tomarrow would that strengthen your faith any more. No . Would it bring a lot of people to asking about it and trying to find out more of God. Probably , but would they have faith. No , they would have proof. When we have faith , total faith , we can move moutains. When we have faith in God and Jesus there is nothing that we can’t do. Can you walk on water right now? Why ? Peter did. The deciples raised the dead and healed the sick . They drove out demons and performed miricales . What was so special about them , They had faith. They had faith and proof that Jesus was the risen Lord. Why can’t we do these things , today? We can . Go to a third world cultur and you will see miricals happen . You will see the work of Jesus being done with tremendous faith. So why can’t I , you ask ? Do you have faith ? Do you have total faith in what Jesus is doing in your life? Do you truly have Jesus in front of your life , standing on the water telling you to have faith and come? Will you come . Will you give up the trouble and storms of this world and fallow Him ? Let’s pray . Father , we come to you today to say thank you for letting us go from time to time to see what is truly in our heart. I pray that what is in my heart is your will . I have faith in you Father that Your plans for my life are also my plans. That you Father are infront of my life and not behind it. That today I will totally give you my faith that your will for my life is what I will do . In total faith ,love and trust I give you Jesus my life and this body to do your will. In Jesus name we pray , Amen.
