A little bit about SELF-INITIATIVE today.

July 2018 – SELF-INITIATIVE – Doing what needs to be done without having to be told to do it.

Take a look at Andrew, one of Jesus’ apostles and Simon Peter’s somewhat quiet brother.  In John 6 Jesus was helping all who came to Him.  He went up on a mountain, sat down, and lifted His eyes to see a multitude of people coming toward Him.  Jesus then asked one of His disciples (Philip), “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” even though He already knew what He would do.  Philip gave him the answer that most of us would have given; “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them that every one of them may have a little.”  We would have probably said, “Jesus!  Are you kidding!  There’s not enough money in the bank to feed this many people!” Then Andrew shows self-initiative.  Andrew said to Jesus, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”  Boy, did Andrew, Philip, and everyone else, including you and me, find out just what Jesus, the Son of God can do with whatever we have.   

I was thinking about others who showed self-initiative:  Pricilla and Aquila showed self-initiative when they heard a mighty eloquent preacher named Apollos preach about Jesus, except he only knew about the baptism of John.  They took Apollos aside and explained the way of God more accurately.  We find that Apollos “greatly helped those who had believed through grace” and he “vigorously refuted” those who denied that Jesus was the Christ.  You can read about this in Acts 18:24-28.

Joseph of Arimathea along with Nicodemus showed self-initiative and great love for Jesus even though they were somewhat shy in their faith when they alone came to take Jesus’ body down from the cross to prepare it and bury it in that brand new borrowed tomb.  Jesus didn’t need that tomb for long, only until Sunday morning.  This is a beautiful reading in John 19:38-42.  It is very difficult for me to read this passage without crying.  I would like to think that if I would have lived in that day, that there would be a third person with Joseph and Nicodemus…Mickey.

You can probably think of many, many more from the Bible that exercised self-initiative.  I enjoy these kinds of exercises…

How can we create and cultivate self-initiative within ourselves and within others?  I hope the following suggestions will help us do just that.

1.      GET DISSATISIFED – I’m not talking about being dissatisfied with God or Jesus or the precious gospel written once for all in the Bible, nor with someone or anyone else.  We must get dissatisfied with ourselves.  We need to realize that we can be better in Christ.  I can, you can be better.  Just realize it and then do what needs to be done.

2.      TURN LOOSE – Learn to say “yes” more often.  “Be zealous for good works” – Titus 2:14.  “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works" – Hebrews 10:24.  When we look at our limitations, weaknesses, and “humanness” as walls between us and our capabilities we kill self-initiative.  Saying “yes” sets us free from these walls.

3.      WEEN YOURSELF – Learn to stand on your own two feet.  Open your eyes and look around you to see where you are and then where you need to be and can be.  Don’t wait to be told to move forward.  Just move.  Assemble with the church anytime and every time you have the opportunity.  Volunteer to help in any way you can.  Study the Bible every day.  Pray in faith without ceasing.  Grow in Christ.  Try!!  God will bless you for it.