In Need of God's Full Closure

[S] Genesis 7:16 --
 ¹⁶Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him.

[O] Obedience is our responsibility while completion of His will in our lives is God's "responsibility" as we see here in this passage about how God closed the ark behind after Noah's family did their portion of following the commands of loading up the ark with the animals (v.5 -- Noah did according to all that the LORD had commanded him.).  I wish I could've seen how the ark was built and the final product looked like because for a total amateur like Noah to build such an ark to last 150 days floating on water completely water proofed, God must have intervened in building it and as mentioned in this passage, God "closed" the task/project to completion beyond the efforts of men.  Likewise, I believe that's how God's ministry at our church is to grow -- all the congregation will do our share of the task with God's leadership until He "closes" them to completion to withstand the time miraculously not because we are the experts at it but amateurs who lean on His expertise 100%.

[A] Leaning on God does not mean slacking off and letting Him do the rest but initially giving my best and then letting God fill what my best still lacks to do God-sized tasks.  In light of the small group ministry at church, I feel so inadequate (because my efforts alone are just that) and must transform my mind from forfeiting to give up to surrendering to give into His will.  Then I will experience His fulfilling to "close" my meager efforts into a full closure.

[P] Dear Father, let me not think twice about doing Your ministry with my own efforts because I need Your "closure" to complete the tasks You had assigned me to complete.  It will never be completed on my own no matter what others say.  Thank You for filling the inadequate gap my efforts alone leave behind.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

My Wills vs. God's Mercy

[S] Romans 9:16 --  ¹⁶So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.

[O] The two words "wills" and "mercy" contrasts each other because the "wills" described man's own efforts while "mercy" referred to God's offering regardless of man's efforts (good or bad). So, why am I trying so hard to live out my Christian life?  Yes, I should try my best to do that, but is there a way I can over do this beyond what pleases God?  From this verse, I find that if I am not under God's mercy, then my will-power and efforts alone will not produce the results that pleases God, or even impact the world in any way.  Today's passage is connected to yesterday's verse where emphasizing leaning on God's offerings first is crucial in living out my life which will please God and also to become the effective conduit for achieving His purposes on earth.

[A] As I face some significant changes in the small group ministry at our church, God's been whispering into my ears through these passages that He's (still) in control and not what I do but how much I lean on Him will make the difference in the end.  I will lean on Him 100%, each and every day.

[P] Dear God, Your awesome timing of encouragement is just blowing me away.  Thank You and I will continue to abide and lean on You. Please carry me through as I do that.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.