No More Scarcity Mindset

July 27

Read: Hebrews 13

No More Scarcity Mindset

“Now may the God of peace…equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ…” - Heb. 13:20a,21

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” -Phil. 2:12b,13

“ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…” -2 Peter 1:3

God has equipped his people with “every good thing” so that they may “do his will”. (Heb. 13:21) In Christ, you have been given everything that you need for “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) You are not lacking… or waiting for something that has not been entrusted to you yet. The people of God ought to approach the world with a sense of knowing that what we will need to carry out the will of God in this world has been entrusted to us in Christ. These are the words directly from God’s word. The enemy wants us to feel as though we function from a deficit… in a state of scarcity… lacking what is necessary to do the work and will of God.

The shocking part is that not only does the Lord “grant us all things” and “equip us with every good thing” but it is actually the Lord who changes our will within us. The Lord is transforming his people. Philippians tells us: “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” This same idea comes again near the end of todays passage in Hebrews: “(the God of Peace is) working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ…” (v.21) God, through Christ, is working in us what pleases him. God actually transforms our will to align with his. That means that the temptation or draw away from the Lord (towards sin and disobedience) is an outside attack… despite the fact that it may feel like or appear to be from within in us. God is working within us and has transformed both in “will” and in substance.

Our experience… the sensation of living out or lives… is one where we feel as though we are “doing” things. In fact, we ARE doing things. Look at the words of the scriptures:

“that you may do his will…” - “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…” - “equip you with everything good that you may do his will…”

This is a biblical paradox: It is God who works and wills within in us doing the work while at the same time it is also our work to do. God is calling us to these “good works” or “good deeds” that are pleasing to him. He is sovereign and in control and yet, somehow we are also participants. What you do with your life matters! This closing section of Hebrew is a powerful call to action rooted in the truth of Christ’s indwelling presence within us! What sorts of things is God willing and working out within us as his people? In this passage, we are called to:

Love with brotherly love

Show hospitality to strangers

Remember those who are imprisoned or mistreated

Honor marriage

Be free from the love of money

Honor leaders

Be committed to right teaching

Pray for others, be patient with others, and greet one another with encouragement

What a powerful closing for a powerful book! This is what Christ is doing in us and through us as his people. God has entrusted you with everything you need to participate in those things above… and he is willing and working in you to bring those things about. Christ is driving us forward into opportunities to experience his presence in us! Amen to that. Love you guys. - JDP