There Is Only One Savior!

While each one of us are supposed to represent Jesus well, and be Jesus to those around us, we should remember that there is only One Savior. As we may be co-laborers with God in the harvest, it is still God Who gives the increase (see 1Corinthians 3:5-9). The only Way to the Father is through the Son (see John 14:6). The One Who heals and makes the decision about whom or how people are healed is He. Nevertheless, there are those who wear themselves out trying to be the savior of the world, as if they are the only link to God. Without realizing it, they act as if they are the only ones who love God. Some even believe they are the only “true believers” around.

Sometimes zeal can work against people. Inadvertently a number of them make themselves the “the go to” person. Eventually they so encumber themselves that they stress out because they are spread too thin. Instead of stewarding well what the Lord has given them to do they try to take on more than they are supposed to, and wonder why they feel like failures in the end. They are so busy trying to be the Savior that they fail to do what Jesus has called them to do. Their busyness has made them ineffective in their actual calling. Because they place themselves in this position, they wind up trying to live up to other people’s expectations (real or imagined) instead of God’s expectations. Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (KJV). When we please the Father and do His will, we will bless others. If you are burned out on “ministry,” it is time to reboot. Novices and mature alike have fallen into this trap. Therefore, instead of feeling guilty, stop and listen. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (KJV). If you want to do works of faith, listen and obey. The bottom line is spend time with God and let the works flow out of the relationship. As you walk by faith, leave the results to Him. It is not up to you to make things happen; it is up to you to believe. John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom he hath sent (KJV).

There is another group of “saviors.” These try to fix people in the name of “ministry.” They want to “save” everyone so they can avoid their own baggage. It is easier to deal with other people’s hurts, fears and struggles than to face our own. While it may “feel good” to help someone else, it does not help you. As long as people refuse to deal with their own issues, they will never be who God called them to be nor will they be effective in helping others. You cannot use ministry like a drug to dull pain and ease anxiety. “Helping” someone else does not necessarily mean you have your act together. Fortunately in many instances, it was God’s grace that helped people through difficulty in spite of the “minister.”

Matthew 7:3-5 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye (KJV). True ministry requires clarity. Without it, we can do more harm than good. As long as you minister to others because of personal issues, you will filter everything through them. You will believe what a person is experiencing is the same thing you have experienced and miss it by miles. It is like a doctor who has faulty equipment, and as a result, misdiagnoses a patient. That means it would be easy to offer bad advice under such circumstances. In the mean time, you still have not come to enjoy the freedom of God through your own healing.

Sometimes the Lord will have us help another as part of the healing process. It is one thing to “minister” because we are hurting, and quite another to minister in spite of our hurting. However, we must keep process in the Lord’s hands. That means we sit with Him and allow Him to reveal those hidden things lurking in us. We must permit Him to minister to us in the way He sees fit. The process may or may not include other people. Nonetheless, it starts with Him and it ends with Him. After all, He is the Author and Finisher of our faith (see Hebrews 12:2).

Lastly, there are those who will go to people before they go to the Savior. They have become so self-absorbed that all they want is people’s attention. They do not desire change; they desire ministry. Going to Jesus demands change. Going to Him means healing and freedom. Sadly, many come to think that the only way people will pay attention to them is if they have problems. Instead of allowing others to freely love them, they manipulate them. Getting people to feel sorry for you accomplishes nothing. The Father wants a deep intimate relationship with you because He loves you. In spite of any negative experiences in life, especially with those who are supposed to be close, you can trust Him to love you. The question is, do you love Him? When we face hardship, we need to go to our Savior first. Then if He leads us to others, we can go to them. Until then, we wait on Him.

A major reason we see people who never change or who are ever in some sort of a crisis is because they do not want change. Instead of letting go of their problems, they hang on to them while accusing God for their problems. Many of which they cause themselves. Instead of forgiving others when they need to, they wrap themselves up in a cocoon of bitterness, and then wonder why no one helps them or wants to be around them. It is hypocritical to refuse the help you need, and complain because no one will “help.” God will get as close to you as you let Him. If you want to remain sovereign, the Savior will not be your Lord. Some need to figure out who has the best terms. You can do life on your terms or do life on His terms and actually have abundant life. It is your decision alone. As long as you bury yourself in your problems, you will remain lonely. That is on you. If you go to the Savior and allow Him to be your Lord, He will lift you up and out of the pit of despair.

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