Transformed by the Word: ‘Partnership with God’

By Lyn Wake | Wycliffe Today Spring Edition 2022 |

When my husband and I joined the global Bible translation movement, we viewed it as a great opportunity to ‘do something good for God’. While we were correct on one hand, our incomplete perspective needed transforming. Over time, and in the company of inspirational family and colleagues, we experienced a paradigm shift. 

We discovered that Christian ministry is not about doing things for God, but with him!

From the beginning, we have been designed for a loving partnership with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe – a partnership made possible through the redeeming work of Jesus. God can work in any manner he chooses. Yet, incredibly, he seems to delight in wrapping his infinite goodness within the broken beauty of our shared humanity to achieve his good purposes. Yes, partnership with God is his divinely chosen modus operandi.

Saint Teresa of Avila, a 16th century Spanish nun, is attributed with the following poem. It describes in practical terms what partnership with God looks like: 

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours.¹

May we all live into this God-ordained partnership – one that will last forever and bear tons of rich fruit for his glory!

Reflect: Where might the flow of partnership with God be blocked in your life and stifling the fulfilment of your union with Jesus?  

Be transformed by the Word as you engage with: John 15:1-17

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we acknowledge that without you, we can do nothing. By your Spirit, enable us to partner with you so we can accomplish many glorious things together to bless your world. Amen. 

_{1 ‘Christ Has No Body’ by St Teresa of Avila c 1515-1582 AD.}

The featured image is the chapel in Avila, Spain. Photograph by Mario la Pergola.