Our Usability
Do you believe that the Lord wants to talk to you? Do you believe that the Lord can use you? I asked someone the other day, has the Lord called you? They explained why they were not a proper tool for the Lord to use in people’s lives. Did you know that someone created imaginary resumes for the twelve disciples of Jesus. They used several personality tests, which produced interesting results about the disciples’ vocational aptitudes and abilities. The summary of the fictitious results is as follows:
From the Jordan Management Consultants. The disciples you are using lack experience, education, and vocational aptitude for the enterprise you are undertaking, and they do not have a team concept. We recommend that you continue your search for persons of experience in managerial ability and proven capability. Simon Peter is emotionally unstable and given to fits of temper, and Andrew has no leadership qualities. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty.
Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that tends to undermine morale. We must tell you that the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau had blacklisted Matthew; James, the son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus, definitely had radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man.
Suppose you feel that you are unusable. Do you think that you lack the qualifications? Might I remind you that the Lord used Abraham, who was old. Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages.
The Lord used the Samaritan woman. John 4:39-42, “And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, He told me all that I ever did. And many more believed.”
Jesus touched the lives of many because He touched the life of one. He touched the life of the Samaritan Woman at the well, and an entire village was transformed. We all can make a difference, one person, one marriage, and one family at a time. We are all usable for service because of the Holy Spirit in us.
Do you pursue Jesus or just believe in Jesus? Let me give you an action step. It is time to leave “the well” and tell someone about Jesus. The Samaritan woman does this, she runs back and tells the entire village, and the people are transformed. Our mission is to drink from “the well” and then leave “the well” and tell people what God is doing in our lives, share our Good News story, and leave the work of salvation in the hands of the Lord.
Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We can’t be stagnant when we pursue God’s love, faithfulness, and call. Remember that if we confess our sins and repent of our sins, the Lord forgives us of our sins:
Psalm 103:12, “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”
Acts 10:43, “He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”
Hebrew 8:12, “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”
He is ready to use us. We are called to service by the Lord.
Pastor Steve