An Obstinate Freedom

Rather than considering yourself essential, remember frequently it is the Lord’s work to be done the Lord’s way. I initially heard that principle from Francis Schaeffer while attending one of his lectures. There he stood in knickers and a turtleneck sweater, delivering this very message to a group of young, idealistic listeners—many of us fighting to find our way. I heard him say this again : “The Lord’s work must be done the Lord’s way.

If you are in a rush, you can make it work your way.

It might have all of the marks of promotion, but it will not be the Lord’s way. It could be time for you to be let down off your wall in a basket to learn that in your life.

John Pollock, in his excellent book The Apostle, states, “The irony was appreciated by him the mighty Paul, who had originally approached Damascus with all of the panoply of the high clergyman’s representative, should make his last exit in a fish basket, helped by the extraordinarily folk he had come to hurt.”. Solely to set the record straight, our lives aren’t caught “in the slipped clutch of circumstance.” Our heads aren’t to be “bloodied, but unbowed.” You and I are neither the “masters of our fate” nor are we the “captains of our souls.”* We are going to be completely, ceaselessly, and totally conditional upon the mercy of Almighty God, if we would like to do the Lord’s work the Lord’s way.

My question is : Are you learning that? If not, today would be a good day to start.