“Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered 9 And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9
These scriptures have fed me, encouraged me, challenged me, and kept me going for years. His completed experience made Him perfectly equipped so that He became. We all want to become someone, but are we willing to have a completed experience, to be perfectly equipped, so that, when we get there, we can become all God wants us to be?
David was alone, caring for his father’s sheep, learning to be faithful to trust God. He fought the lion and the bear, alone and away from everyone, gaining the experience he would need to one day face Goliath. What if David would have quit and gone home feeling underappreciated and left out? He would not have had the experience or confidence to face what eventually made him King. How many times do we get chased out of our promotions and blessings by the very things that are our stepping stones to success? Be faithful, body, soul, and spirit, where you are. Serve God when you think no one is watching because He always is. Even our Lord and Savior had to have a completed experience before he became the “Author and Source of Eternal Salvation”.
“For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering.” Hebrews 2:10 (AMP)
Yes, Jesus suffered on the cross, but He first suffered in the Garden when He said, “Lord not my will, but thy will be done.” Jesus had to stay long enough in the earth to gain the full human experience. He had to go through everything we have, or will, so he could relate to us when we come to Him. It’s the blood of Jesus that saved and delivered us from the hell we deserved, but it was Jesus laying down His will that gave Him the name above all names.
“[Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs.” Hebrews 1:4
If it was just about His blood, Jesus could have been crucified as a child, but that would not have been His will. Jesus had to willingly lay down His life for ours. A big part of our completed experience is saying, “Okay Lord, I may not understand why I am here, but I trust you. My part is to be faithful in both the good and bad times, the seen and the unseen.” If God calls you to serve behind the scenes, or in front of a large group of people, be faithful. Your faithfulness in those areas is what will lead to your promotion.
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” Philippians 1:6
We use our faith for so many things, but one of the hardest things is to believe that God is not done with us yet. We look for things like age or time to bring the wanted change, but in reality, it’s up to us and our will when it happens. Be faithful where you are planted. Do all things without grumbling and complaining. Being on time and a person of your word are not spiritual gifts. Be faithful with a few things, and God will make you ruler over much. Put your hand to the plow and serve in your local church. We need you now more than ever. Watch promotion flow.
