Go ahead... fill in the blanks.
I'll wait.
I'll wait.
I know you can. You know you can. We all can. We all have filled in the blanks before - in conversation with others. With ourselves. With God.
I wish I could...
be more bold
do more outreach
give more time
minister to those in need
talk to my neighbor about salvation
But...
I'm too shy
I don't know how
I'm just too darn busy
I don't have what it takes
I don't know what I should say
I know those are the things you've probably said before, because I've said them too. All Christians have. It's inevitable.
Once we give our lives over to Christ, He will begin to stir our hearts into service on His behalf. After all, the Bible says that we are created by Him, and for Him - unto His good works. (Eph. 2:10). That's what we're here for - to experience His grace and salvation, yes. But, we are also supposed to help others experience them as well. God's got the best retirement plan in the universe, but He really, really wants you to show up and do the job He's given you before you get there.
And, our flesh, conditioning, and will aren't going to like that. They don't want to take orders. They don't want to do the same things that He wants them to do. So, they help us make up excuses. And, for some reason, we believe them.
We believe that our personality, or lifestyle, or circumstances are somehow enough to excuse us from doing the things God put us here to do.
In short, we make our 'but...' bigger than God.
I promise you - you are not so fundamentally flawed, incapable, and ineffective that God can't/won't/doesn't want to use you. That would mean that your weaknesses (whatever it is you believe them to be) are more than the Almighty can overcome.
I know those are the things you've probably said before, because I've said them too. All Christians have. It's inevitable.
Once we give our lives over to Christ, He will begin to stir our hearts into service on His behalf. After all, the Bible says that we are created by Him, and for Him - unto His good works. (Eph. 2:10). That's what we're here for - to experience His grace and salvation, yes. But, we are also supposed to help others experience them as well. God's got the best retirement plan in the universe, but He really, really wants you to show up and do the job He's given you before you get there.
And, our flesh, conditioning, and will aren't going to like that. They don't want to take orders. They don't want to do the same things that He wants them to do. So, they help us make up excuses. And, for some reason, we believe them.
We believe that our personality, or lifestyle, or circumstances are somehow enough to excuse us from doing the things God put us here to do.
In short, we make our 'but...' bigger than God.
I promise you - you are not so fundamentally flawed, incapable, and ineffective that God can't/won't/doesn't want to use you. That would mean that your weaknesses (whatever it is you believe them to be) are more than the Almighty can overcome.
[Your worst failings sound kinda insignificant when you hear it put that way, don't they?]
I invite you today to stop doing what's comfortable, and step out in faith to do what He asks you to do instead. You just might be surprised how mightily He shows up in your life, and what a joy it is to work your 'but...' off on His behalf!
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