“I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”
John 9:4
The definitions of Initiative are: 1. The ability to assess and initiate things independently. 2. The power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. 3. An act or strategy intended to resolve a difficulty or improve a situation.
3.5 years is practically not a long period of time. However, Jesus’ ministry left such a legacy and impact to mankind. It has been 2013 years and we are still talking about it and being blessed by what He did. One of the character traits Jesus shown was initiative. It is clearly seen in the way He responded on situations like stated on the verse above. The word “work” in the original language is “ergazomai” which also means to commit, labour for, minister about, and trade by. This means as long as there is opportunity to do good, one must have the character of initiative to make the commitment to minister, work or even run a business.
Then how do we cultivate this very important character?
- Set our PRIORITY right. JESUS understood that His timing was only 3.5 years in the ministry. He could not waste His time. He had His priority right.
- Use and create OPPORTUNITY: a fool – would waste an opportunity; a diligent – would use an opportunity; a smart – would create an opportunity. 2Ti 4:2, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
- Have the right MOTIVES. Pharisees wanted to nail Jesus on the cross. That happened mostly because of issues of heart. Pharisees were not happy when Jesus healed the blind man, just because it was on Sabbath. Was it because of the Sabbath? Or the hatred, envy?
- Conquering FEAR. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. It is normal to fear, because when we face an unpleasant situation, our whole body system gets alert. However, we must not entertain fear. Especially knowing that as a child of the Most High God, we have our Father on our side. Psa 55:22, “Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
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