Taking Initiative Part Two
Not everyone is comfortable with taking initiative, although it is generally seen as one of the more positive character personality traits.
Trapped Miners
In August 2010, 33 miners were buried in a collapsed mine in Southern Chile for almost three months. The rescue plan that the Chilean government put into effect reminds us of the rescue plan God put in place to rescue mankind.
While those Chilean miners remained trapped under ground, buried alive, and helpless, 120 professionals and experts gathered on the surface, working together around the clock to rescue the men who lay trapped beneath their feet. Sending a shuttle down a shaft they had dug through unstable ground, they were able to rescue all 33 of the men, pulling them up out of the mine, one grateful miner at a time.
Christ Saw Our Need and Took Initiative
In the same way, Christ saw my need, came down to the earth, went down to the cross, then down into the belly of the earth for three days in order to shuttle me forth from the pit of sin which I had fallen into. In heaven there is a God of love who had planned from all eternity to come down into the collapsed mine of Eden, so to speak, in order to bring us up out of it by means of a cross. I am so glad there is a God like that digging through to me. I am so glad there is a God like that who took initiative to save me.
All of this is characteristic of our God. Even a cursory glance of Christ’s life reveals was He is like. Christ took the initiative to go see a broken woman at a well, to give her soul a drink of thirst quenching water. While on His way to Jerusalem where He would die, Christ took the initiative to go see and heal ten desperate lepers who lived on the outskirts and margins of life. To them He gave restoration.
Listen to Shane on his producer’s page: https://legacy.hopestreamradio.com/producers/shane-johnson/
Christ Took The Initiative to Help a Man
Christ took the initiative to help a pathetic man who sat daily at the pool of Bethesda, a man who waited in vain to be the first in the waters to be healed when the waters stirred. “Sir,” said the paralyzed man, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another steps down before me.” What a sad sight. But Christ had come to help the man. No longer would the man need to wait for the stirring of the water. “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” Christ commanded. On behalf of others, Christ came, Christ saw, Christ conquered.
The Ultimate Initiative
But the ultimate initiative was the initiative Christ took when He set his face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem, which we read of in Luke 9 verse 51. There we read that He “set His face like a flint” to go to Jerusalem. Flint stone was one of the hardest stones known in ancient times. Christ face was like flint stone, hard and set in granite permanence. Christ face was immovably resolute to go to the cross.
My wife and I determined long ago that we would set some money aside so that our children could have a better education. We have made the necessary sacrifices in order to prepare for them. But Christ determined long ago to give us ultimately what we need, without which we would forever perish.
Christ saw, Christ came, Christ conquered. Christ had been thinking about us from time memorial. From all eternity Christ knew what He would have to do, and He set his face steadfastly toward Jerusalem in order to do it. This is the type of God we serve. This is the type of God that has the whole world in His hands.
When have you effectively taken the initiative to reach out to someone? Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his program entitled “Christ Up Close.”
Read Taking Initiative Part One here
Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson has been commended from Bethel-Park Bible Chapel since 1999. He resides in Brantford, Ontario with his wife Shelly and his five children.
He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. His passions are teaching children, inspiring young people, writing, music and playing soccer.
Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his programs entitled “Christ Up Close,” “Raising Fathers,” and “Proverbs – Wisdom For Fools.“
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