Oswald Chambers said in his wonderful devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, "A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ's own, one who is not above his Master, one who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls to no special work; He calls to Himself. 'Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,' [Matthew 9:38] and He will engineer circumstances and thrust you out." Although Chambers was making a statement that merely encompasses this particular thought, it really spoke to me today.

The Bible says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21) I wonder how many times we try to concoct some grand scheme--or even a small one--in the name of "doing a work for God" that He really is not leading us to do. Somehow us humans who have been elected unto salvation, in our efforts to be "like the Most High", like to get busy doing things for God rather than simply enjoying Him. For example, Martha was busy working while Mary sat at the Lord's feet, which caused Martha great annoyance (Luke 10:40-42). In that instance, Jesus said that Mary chose "the better part". Wow...to Martha it simply looked like Mary was wasting time sitting down doing nothing while she did all the (important?) work. I've felt (and acted!) like Martha before...have you?

The Lord enjoys to see His servants truly serving Him and working for His kingdom out of a genuine and sincere love for Him. But sometimes we get off track (or were never on the right track in the first place) and decide to do some great work for Him when He simply is calling us to Himself. Sometimes it's not the grand scheme that we believe God is stirring up in us, but really the sweet drawing of the Holy Spirit into the presence of our Father. And it is there, in His presence, that we get the truth, discernment, and clarity we need to really see how He has been "engineering" the circumstances around us and is preparing us to be "thrust out". I want to hear from Him and move when, where, why, and how He says move. Lord, help me to be that "Mary"-like servant.