Taking Initiative Part One
Not everyone is comfortable with taking initiative, although it is generally seen as one of the more positive character personality traits.
Taking Initiative
Initiative says a lot about a person’s character. It shows they are concerned; it shows they are motivated; it shows they are determined. Many people in our world take the initiative to amass wealth, pursue excellence or hone their skills. Some attribute wealth, fame and success to the dogged determination of the driven who take the direction of their life into their own hands.
hopestreamradio · Divine Initiative
Few people, on the other hand, take initiative on behalf of others. Besides our parents who provided for us while we were young, there are relatively few people who will take initiative to do something to benefit someone else in this world. Our parents work to provide a roof over our heads and clothes on our back. They may even set aside money so that we can afford to go to school or have a nice wedding. And parents come to our rescue or bail us out when we have gotten ourselves into a pile of trouble.
God’s Initiative
But God’s initiative excels them all. God, the perfect parent, has always had our best interest in mind. God, the perfect parent, has always taken the initiative to make sure we are well provided for, spiritually-educated and safely rescued when we find ourselves in trouble.
The first time God took the initiative was in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve had sinned and hidden themselves behind the trees of the garden, it was God who took the initiative. God sought them out. God came to them and said, “Where are you?” and “What have you done?” God took the first step to bring our first parents out of hiding. God broke the silence and started the conversation that would lead to our eventual healing. In the plan of redemption, God loved first.
After the initial breakdown of the relationship, God knocked on our door first. To Him we owe our response.
Initiative In Salvation
The same is true in salvation. According to John chapter 16 verse 8 through 11, it is God the Holy Spirit who comes to us and convicts us of sin. It is God who convinces us that we need Him. It is God the Holy Spirit who breathed the words of Scripture to the men who wrote our Bibles. And it was God the Holy Spirit who sent the Sunday school teacher or the preacher who led us to Christ.
From beginning to end, God has taken the initiative in bringing salvation to us, and us to salvation.
That plan continued until the coming of Christ. After John the Baptist was put in prison, we see Christ taking initiative in calling people into the Kingdom of God.
“The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand,”
and we read in Mark chapter 1 verse 15,
“repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Just as God had come to Adam in the garden to expose the wound of his sin, so Christ had come to man on the streets of Galilee to heal the wounds sin had made. From Eden to Galilee, Christ was determined to restore His relationship with man.
The initiative shown in Mark chapter 1 recedes much further back in time than the times of the New Testament. It even recedes further than the first words of Genesis 1:1. The initiative of God springs from eternity, for we read in Revelation chapter 13 verse 8 that the Lamb was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev.13:8). Hallelujah, awesome wonder! Christ died before we sin against Him in time. What depth of love is this? Known to God from eternity are all His works (Acts 15:17).
How did God take the initiative with you? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Shane Johnson
Shane Johnson has been commended from Bethel-Park Bible Chapel since 1999. He resides in Brantford, Ontario with his wife Shelly and his five children.
He has his Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a minor in History. His passions are teaching children, inspiring young people, writing, music and playing soccer.
Shane is a regular contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio through his program entitled “Christ Up Close.”
Leave a Reply