Is this Me?

Today while reading Ezekiel this verse popped out at me. This is *not* what we are supposed to be, but I'm pretty sure that I fall into the trap of just getting myself by. It's all about me, even my relationship with God tends to be all about me. Reading this verse made me think what life would be like if we were the opposite, if we really did these things.

"The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sough what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them." -Ezekiel 34:4 

The Lord is talking to His Shepherd's, the leaders of His people, who weren't doing their job. Although not all of us are leaders in the strict sense of the word, I think that as the body of Christ this applies to all of us. As Christians we should be leading the sheep. 

I want to get out there, stop thinking about myself, and instead,

strengthen the weak.

heal the sick.

bind up the broken.

and seek those who are lost.  

A Mustard Seed?

"The power of faith rests in the reliability of the object of your faith, not in the amount of faith you have." [Part of Mr. Gillson's sermon on Sunday]

"And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these live [in reference to a valley of dry bones]?' So I answered, 'O Lord God, You know.' Again He said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones, 'Surely I will cause breath to enter into you , and you shall live'...... [Ezekiel 37:3-5]

"So I prophesied as I was commanded." [verse 6]

And it happened. The bones came to life, and breath entered them. 

But I don't see any bold faith statement here, he doesn't say "Yes!" when the Lord asks him if these bones can live. He said what he was commanded to say and it happened.

These things don't rely on the amount or the strength of our faith. All we need is faith like a mustard seed! I always looked at that story and thought, wow, I don't even have the faith of a mustard seed. But Jesus is saying that we don't have any use for any more! All we need is that little seed of faith, and He'll do the rest. It's a freeing thought.

For me it's easy, so easy to get focused on myself; "if only I had a little more faith, maybe if I believed a little harder", and completely miss the fact that it's all about Him. He's bigger than us! "Hello guys, don't you think *I* can work with a dot of faith, or over-ride a bit of unbelief????" It's almost as if by thinking that we need more faith, we're exhibiting less faith in God by mistakenly thinking that the outcome rides on us. 

We still need to step out in obedience and put actions to our faith, but let's try to stop focusing on the amount of our faith. All we need is a mustard seed, pretty much the size of this period. And, after that, it's all Him! :-)