“Look at the nations and watch — be utterly amazed. For I’m going to do something in your days that you would not believe; even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5
Habakkuk 1:5 has quickly become “my verse” for this race as it’s one of the ways I felt confirmed in this next step of the World Race and it continues to show me so much about the heart of Jesus in a singular verse each time I read it. Last night, as I had just gotten home from a whirlwind of a weekend full of unexpected and immense blessing in friendship, time with family, and generosity. I came across this verse again and was overwhelmed by these thoughts…
“Look, watch, and be.” These are all observation verba God uses to instruct us as He proclaims something amazing over us at the start of the verse/promise. These verbs have no action to them, they request that we simply see.
This is difficult for me, to simply “be” and not “do.”
It’s funny — I often can act like I’m doing God a huge favor by going on a big long international mission trip and doing fundraisers and doing all this stuff to prepare for the race. And I get all dramatic about camping and uncomfortably and glow sticks and such all too often.
Doing, doing, doing…Me, me, me…
And then soft reminders like this come about. Look, watch, and be. There is nothing here that says I need to DO anything (or that this is even about me).
In the same way, Jesus gave of himself and gave us the opportunity of salvation — it’s by God’s grace. It’s nothing we’ve done, do, or could ever do to change his promise of eternal life when we surrender our lives to Jesus. All we do is receive Jesus and his gifts, including His never-ending grace at the foot of the cross.
So what makes me think I could do anything FOR God like this race? It’s simple, I’m a pretty rotten sinner. No matter what fundraisers or trip or “my ministry” or whatever I do in this gift of life — it’s nothing if I’m not obedient, if I’m not waving my white flag of complete surrender to allow Jesus to shine through it all.
I’ve been blessed to see my family model hard work and perseverance to me. I firmly believe I would not be an honest servant of Christ if I didn’t give my all in trying to prepare for this race well or “do my part” as I know Jesus is teaching me just as much if not more in the preparation for this Race as going on the actual Race. It comes down to, am I running it well?Am I doing for His glory or for mine? My doing has to have the right motives, not pridefully (as it has been at times) to being going on this trip or thinking that I could change the world (myself, not Jesus in me) or for accolades of my own (which I’ve enjoyed some compliments too much that weren’t meant for me).
This trip is an immense gift and I have the chance to see that daily. I can boast in Jesus that he has graciously called and crafted a sinner like me to go on this Jesus-led journey around the world to change the world He created by His hands and miracles. The very fact that I need a creator is humbling. I can’t do anything. I simply get to look, watch, and be.
Later in Habakkuk 1:5 the Lord promises, “For I will DO something in your days that you would not believe; even if told.” He does it all. It’s never been more clear to me than today, everything in life is a gift from Jesus. I broke down in tears yesterday afternoon over not being able to comprehend a “random” blessing that I was all worried about yesterday morning.
My worries of the morning are God’s blessings fulfilled in the evening.
I honestly have no clue how this race will be prepared for, funded, or run well except by God’s grace. It’s carried me here, to this grace filled moment at the foot of the cross, and I pray I SEE the daily faithfulness Jesus brings to carry me wherever I need to go.
