Partnering with God: my part & His...

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    ByShannon LewisTaggedNo tags

    I have to be honest with you: I get the jitters when I hear the phrase "partnering with God" in Christian circles. I get it - we are the responders - it works best for us when we obediently take part in God’s revealed plan - but man, I'm definitely an ant riding a brontosaurus in that relationship.  Granted, the brontosaurus loves me, and has invited me along for the ride, but still... it’s hardly an equal partnership.  It’s a lot like when I last flew to Ohio - I didn’t fly to Ohio - the Jet did, but I did participate by staying buckled in, and choosing to not jump out the window.  My part in the deal was not nearly as important as the plane's, but I did participate, I suppose.  Don’t get me wrong, the concept of “partnering with God” is Biblical: 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are God’s FELLOW WORKERS” - i.e., “partners”, yet the rest of the verse gives context, “You are God’s field, God’s building”, and in the verses immediately preceding, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth” (1 Cor. 3:7).  That’s what gives me confidence: not that God and I are partners (which I could easily misunderstand as meaning that He’s somehow in on my plan), but that I am God’s, and He is doing His work in and through me.  

    Thy Kingdom come - Thy will be done.  So be it.

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    3 comments
    On 1/5/2010 10:10 AM, Fred McKinnon said...A hearty AMEN.
    On 1/7/2010 11:07 AM, Ben Harrell said...I still love the statement because I take it sort of from the opposite angle.  God LETS me be his partner.  It's like playing pick-up basketball and Michael Jordan picks you for his team.  Me PARTNERING with God means that I get to be a PART of what he's doing.  And that makes me very, very happy.

    So when I get to PARTNER with God in bringing healing to someone who is sick, I'm thrilled to get to be PART of it.

    Just my two cents worth. 
    On 1/7/2010 11:16 AM, Shannon Lewis said...Very good point, Ben.  Actually, I agree with you... in fact, that's a great analogy, because Jordan would be clearly carrying the game, but you are invited to take part.  I love to know that you read this, too...honored!

    Your 2 cents is at least worth a dollar. ;-)
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    For What it's Worth:by Thoughts on Worship for a God who is Worthy