I went in to my son’s room this morning to feed his fish. Often the poor fish is forgotten and doesn’t get to eat as much as he probably needs. This fish is so very dependent on us to feed him, if he ever gets hungry he has no ability to take care of his own hunger. Even though it is only a fish… It still makes me sad. If he were living in a place that was more free and open, he could eat whenever he wanted, but he would also loose the protection of the little tank in our house. There are times honestly when we are very busy with our other life responsibilities, the little fish will not be taken care of the way he needs to be.
Often God will parallel life situations for me with the truth in His word. And this morning He happened to use a little fish, yes indeed, a nameless little goldfish. He actually has had several names, but we forget the name, and then he gets a new name for awhile….
I began to process, as I long as I have been walking with the Lord, how many times do I expect to be hand-fed by the leaders within my church. With this idea that unless they feed me I have no ability to feed myself. Unless I only swim and work within those church walls, I will be eaten up or will loose my food source.
I have leaders, purposely to help me learn, grow, and ultimately fulfill the great commission. But, if I only stay continuing to feed and grow within the four walls of the church, I am limited in my ability to feed and grow myself and limit my ability to fulfill His call for my life.
The food and growing for this little fish are great! He keeps eating, everyday… well, he should be eating everyday except the days we forget him…. He keeps growing too. He has tripled in size since we first got him. But, he really honestly has no purpose outside of swimming in his little tank and waiting to get fed again, so he can grow some more….
How many times do I just eat, grow, eat, grow, but do not ever use the growth and food to get out there for the purpose God gave me?
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
What a great commission, truly!!
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus.
Because of that, go.
Make disciples, of who? Jesus
How? Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Walk as the disciples did, that is who he was talking with during this time.
Do we do this all by ourselves? Jesus is with us…. to the end of the age.
Food without purpose is, well, purposeless…..
Growth without a meaning, is meaningless….
Commission restricted to church walls, isn’t a “great commission“….
fryer12345 