If you have been a believer, a follower of Jesus, for long you have probably often wrestled with the dichotomy there is in a strong desire to serve Him, and learning you cannot do anything in your own strength that will accomplish His purpose. I have too often, for some ears, shared the Mary and Martha principle or Luke 10:38-42 where Martha was seeking to serve the Lord and others while Mary was seated at Jesus feet listening to and getting to know Him, so she could serve Him the way He desired, rather than in some way she might simply think/dream up or need might seem to dictate. Martha is frustrated enough by this that she confronts Jesus over her sisters lack of responding to what Martha sees as needed and important:
[Luke 10:40-42 NASB95] 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up [to Him] and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but [only] one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Jesus’ response to Martha thinking that she is doing all the serving alone, is kind and yet a rebuke and correction pointing out that Mary’s focus on hearing Him, choosing the good part, is the choice for service that will result in eternal impact.
Jesus in His own service to us and the Father said:
[John 5:19 NASB95] 19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless [it is] something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
These scriptures indicate to us the importance of serving by the power and energy of the Spirit that indwells us rather than leaning on our own understanding, and natural abilities/talents/bent.
Keep in mind that Jesus, as fully God, could have done anything at any time. But as fully man He was dependent upon His Father by the Spirit for wisdom, strength, enabling and more. We as members of His body are to be just as dependent on Him as He was the Father.
Romans 7 speaks of our new life in Christ giving us a unique ability to serve in the newness of the Spirit.
[Romans 7:4-6 NASB95] 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were [aroused] by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
This picture of dying to the law and being made alive in Christ so we can SERVE IN THE NEWNESS OF THE SPIRIT is powerful. It is the difference between living feeding from the tree of life (which is Jesus), or living feeding from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (our own understanding and strength) alone, which is death.
As Romans 7 above indicates; the law, rote religion powered by what Paul called will worship (in Colossians 2:23 ), results in the members of our body bearing fruit for death. But raised from the dead to be bound to, and in, Jesus, serving in the newness of the Spirit , we bear fruit for God.
Unless we are listening to, feeding on, and living in and from Him, and the Spirit in dwelling us, we cannot carry life. Jesus had much to say regarding feeding on Him as the bread of life in John 6 as well. If we want to serve/minister life we can only do so in Him, as He did in the Father. Ministering or serving in the flesh, our own strength and ability, will not minister life.
Let us give ear to Him and look for what He is doing in the moment. And consider if He desires for us to co-labor with Him in what He is doing. The question is not “WWJD- What Would Jesus Do?”. The question is WIJDRN- What Is Jesus Doing Right Now?” and does He want me serving with Him in it at this moment.
The grace of God in Christ Jesus is manifold, multifaceted! Just like a diamond each facet shows His glory by refracting His light. It has no fire of its own. Jesus is at work all the time doing great works through His risen body. And, as His body, the work He is doing is made practically manifest in and through you and me. So, let us not strike out on our own through our own understanding or ability, but through the “strength which God supplies” in Him. Not serving need(s), but serving Him. In fact co-laboring with and in Him.
[1Peter 4:10-11 NASB95] 10 As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, [is to do so] as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves [is to do so] as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.