Capacity

Spiritual Skill: Humanity (wk. 4/13)

Reading: Isaiah 40:25-31

The limit of human potential is always being challenged. First it was a marathon of 26.2 miles, then ultra marathons, 100 miles, 200 miles. What about a 3,100 mile race with a time cap of 52 days and an average of AT LEAST 60 miles PER DAY to complete? Yeah, that exists and has been accomplished. Those runners are racing along a single block in Queens, New York City that is only a half mile long, on repeat, until they reach 3,100 miles. To have the capacity for this kind of output runners can’t focus on the entirety of the 3,100 miles. They must focus on just the next day, the next mile, the next block, and the next step. To complete our God given potential we can’t focus on the entirety of God’s plan but just the next step.

Much like the overwhelming distance of a 3,100 mile race, we can get overwhelmed by the big problems of the world. Problems that feel outside of our capacity:

-Capacity of language: The majority of 7,000 languages in the world don’t have Bible translations. I know English and it’s bad English at that. Outside of my capacity.

-Capacity of influence: There are eight billion people in the world, and most of them are not followers of Jesus. I have a couple thousand followers across social media. Outside of my capacity.

-Capacity of funds: The UN estimates it would cost 40 billion dollars per year for 10 years to end world hunger. The World Bank estimates it would cost 175 billion dollars per year for 20 years to eliminate extreme poverty. My net worth will never even get close to that. Outside of my capacity.

These are REAL human limitations and when we focus on them exclusively, we can quickly feel defeated.

“How can I possibly make a difference?”

The truth is: You, in your own capacity, can’t.

The prophet Isaiah, who lived 700 years prior to Jesus’ coming, shares an encouraging word to the Jews of the time that is still relevant to us now. In Isaiah 40:30-31,

“Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

Be encouraged that if you look at your own capacity you will struggle. But if you give your struggle to Christ, He will multiply your capacity like He does to feed the thousands starting with just a few loaves and a few fish. Focusing on Him and giving Him what you have, He will multiply it.

The effects of multiplication are simple. Even you, one person, can go share the good news of Christ to one new person every month. When they share that good news with one other person every month, the impact grows. It would only take two years and nine months to reach the entire population of the world. It starts with one. Jesus will multiply it.

For centuries, the Bible only had three written translations. Today, the YouVersion Bible app offers the Bible in 2,300 languages. Pastoral leaders including Rick Warren as well as “Finish the Task” mission are focused on offering the Bible in EVERY known language by 2033. Jesus will multiply it.

40 billion dollars per year for 10 years to end world hunger? If 100 million believers each gave $1.75 per day that would generate $64B per year. In less than 7 years we’d hit the goal. Jesus will multiply it.

If you think you can solve the world’s problems in your own capacity, you will always fall short. The truth is that God’s potential for humanity can only be achieved through the multiplication that comes from trusting Jesus.

Questions for Reflection:

What limits the work Christ can do in your life?

What limits the works you can do to share Christ with others?