"Do I Have a Part to Play?"

"Often our relationship with God is very one-sided. We are looking for Him to do everything instead of looking to Him for his part and us doing ours."

I have found a valuable aspect of our relationship with God that we have either neglected, ignored, or have not been taught. That is in the part that "we" must play in bringing about God's blessings and promises. We have often missed, forfeited, or even aborted these because we do not move and take responsibility for our part in this relationship.

Maybe we need to consider how we view and understand what the word relationship means to us. By definition, a relationship implies a connection, association, or involvement. And one synonym for relationship is alliance. It is this part of the relationship that is missed. Often our relationship with God is very one-sided. We are looking for Him to do everything instead of looking to Him for his part and us doing ours. The great thing is He does not leave us in the dark as to what our role is in this relationship, this alliance. The first time that I noticed this was in the book of Exodus 14:13-16

"Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.

The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward! Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the Israelites shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea."

Notice within the text that Moses is telling the people to stop being afraid and watch how the Lord will save them. But it is Yehovah's response to Moses that I want to point out. It is in verse 15. "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward!"

In other words, why are you coming to me? I have given you what you need, now do your part. Only after Moses does his part does God do His as seen in verses 21 and 22.

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the Israelites went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left."

Something to consider. What would have happened if Moses had not done his part?

All of this denotes a relationship, an alliance. Remember, God has always been interested in and desired a relationship with His creation, His bride. There are other scriptures where God expects from us a response or action, showing the partnership. Here are just a few.

"The Promised Land" – Joshua 1:1-9

Jos 1:1 AFTER THE death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' minister, [Deut. 34:4-8.]

Jos 1:2 Moses, My servant, is dead. So now arise [take his place], go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, the Israelites.

Jos 1:3 Every place upon which the sole of your foot shall tread, that have I given to you, as I promised Moses.

Jos 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river Euphrates--all the land of the Hittites [Canaan]--and to the Great [Mediterranean] Sea on the west shall be your territory.

Jos 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

Jos 1:6 Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Jos 1:7 Only you be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Jos 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

Jos 1:9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

"The Blind Man" – John 9:1-7

Joh 9:1 AS HE passed along, He noticed a man blind from his birth.

Joh 9:2 His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?

Joh 9:3 Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but he was born blind in order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him.

Joh 9:4 We must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight; night is coming on, when no man can work.

Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the world's Light.

Joh 9:6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground and made clay (mud) with His saliva, and He spread it [as ointment] on the man's eyes.

Joh 9:7 And He said to him, Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam--which means Sent. So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

"Man With Withered Hand" – Mathew 12:9-13

Mat 12:9 And going on from there, He went into their synagogue.

Mat 12:10 And behold, a man was there with one withered hand. And they said to Him, Is it lawful or allowable to cure people on the Sabbath days?--that they might accuse Him.

Mat 12:11 But He said to them, What man is there among you, if he has only one sheep and it falls into a pit or ditch on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

Mat 12:12 How much better and of more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful and allowable to do good on the Sabbath days.

Mat 12:13 Then He said to the man, Reach out your hand. And the man reached it out and it was restored, as sound as the other one.

In each instance, there was something that the individual had to do. They had to "move." They could not stay where they were and enter in the promise or receive their miracle. Numerous other scriptures share the same point or underlying theme of us having a part to do.

Remember, this is a relationship, and in any relationship, there is something that each party must do within it. So now the question becomes, what is your part? What is it that you are supposed to be moving in for the promise that God has made to you to come to pass?

Even in prophetic words that we are given, there is always something that you have to do or run the risk of forfeiting or even aborting the promises of God.

You will value more what you also put your hands to. God will move and do His part but will you move and do yours?

Always know that you are #Shape2Live!