The Seed Blog: Let It Be Me

Do you ever get frustrated because you don't see God working the way you read about in Bible times? Do you ever wonder why He doesn't do more around us in this day? Do you ever wonder if those stories were even real? Well Scriptures, in all of their honesty and truthfulness, tell us that some of the greatest heroes of faith had the same feelings, and asked the same questions: Judges 6:12-13.

I am asking each of you to come to the same reality that Gideon was brought to on the day he asked these questions. Listen to the response, from what Gideon thought was an angel, but turned out to be a theophany, or pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Himself: v14: Jesus says, "Stop waiting on Me, I am sending you!" In all of the times before Gideon, and all of the times after, God's work was always done through his people. Absolutely nothing has changed. It had not changed in Gideon's time. Gideon waited in fear and frustration for God to do something like in the olden days, and God only moved when Gideon stepped out as the means of action. It has not changed in our time. We pray for God to do something, to change people around us, to help our nation, to wake our sick society up again. Some don't even pray, they just angrily accuse God when He doesn't see and act because it ought to be pretty obvious, right? But no one is usually willing to step out of their busy lives to be the source of God's work. I know that some of you honestly say what Gideon said—what I often say: "I'm not the one qualified to do this, let someone else do it. Who am I to be the one God uses?: Judges 6:15. I know that I often feel dumb, unskilled, and outnumbered. I so often think, "Why should I even try, no one seems to be trying around me, and what is one person going to do?" But God made me take note of something pretty amazing and important. Almost every person that God ever used was common or powerless and alone. (Did you get that?)
Think about it: Gideon, Moses was made common and alone before being used, Joseph was made common and alone, David was overlooked he was so common and alone, Peter was a single, simple fisherman, Paul, a powerful Pharisee, was made common and alone, Jesus, the Son of God was made common and alone. When you feel common and alone, you are exactly who God uses most to change the world—that is how we know it is all Him. God is so willing and wanting to do great works today, and He must be heartbroken and frustrated because there are no vessels to do His work: Matthew 9:35-38. How much truer must this be today? How much compassion must Jesus have looking at those around us?
We have recently discussed how God is always with us and always willing to work through us to make a difference in other's lives in amazing (even supernatural) ways. But know this, even though He is always present, and willing, and wanting, even though we don't have to be powerful, smart, skilled, or numerous, God will only use certain people. Would you like to be one of those people who God will use? Listen to this illustration before we continue: Flood - National Guard called in to assist—many in danger of death. Some couldn’t care less about the people or their commitment to the Guard, and they stay home (No passion or commitment to help) Some group together and use the equipment and time looting, and when they do help someone, they selectively pick prominent people or attractive women (No righteousness or morals, out for selves). Some use the vehicles and equipment to rescue their own families, and then leave with their families, helping no one else. (Not willing to sacrifice or risk anything) Did any of these people fulfill their duty? Do any of them deserve to be part of the Guard? This is how Jesus has to see so many of us today, and it is why we are not called upon to be used by Him. Let’s look at the first reason God doesn’t use many people today. Many people may believe in God—may even want to follow God—but because of fallen, selfish attitudes, there are more and more who act like the soldiers who looted and chased girls rather than saving lives. They can’t see, and don’t care about the real needs around them because they are enveloped in their own sin: Matthew 5:6. God calls those who want to serve Him to hunger after righteousness. And we are not just talking about how upright you act, or how good you look to the world (where many fail): Matthew 5:20: God wants you to desire, to crave sinlessness and holy living. To many, that thought alone just seems boring and sad, but Scriptures literally say just the opposite is true. This verse says you are actually happier and blessed. How can that be? Listen to why righteousness is a major key to being used and being happy/blessed: it makes you happier because when we are excited and striving for a sinless life, we love more deeply because we have placed more worth and honor on the objects of our love. We walk in less guilt (consciously and subconsciously) because we are not constantly hiding hurtful things, and not constantly doing and saying hurtful things in selfishness. We are free from the known and unknown effects of our sin patterns. Lust, anger, self-pity, greed, jealousy—they all effect every thought and emotion. Which in turn, usually effects every decision and focus of your life, so, what we think puts us in cages (righteousness), actually gives us the happiest life of all. It is absolutely necessary for being used of God because it opens up the clearest, sweetest communication with God you'll ever experience. You are not constantly focused on, and hindered by, your imbalanced thoughts and obsessions (what are yours?) You are not seeing things improperly or unclearly with tainted and selfish motives—thereby angered and hurt by untrue and perceived or uncontrollable events. You are not missing the opportunities to do God's work, or missing the needs around you because you are on a one-track thought process for only what you desire all of the time. In this mindset you can understand God's thoughts, His priorities, and see situations objectively. You stop being part of the problem long enough to be used. That doesn't mean you won't fall or sin again; it means you won't wallow in sin, won't pursue sin anymore: Romans 6:6-7; 1 Peter 2:24. It means you will repent of it, and walk on quickly without guilt, knowing you are forgiven and usable again: Psalm 51:1, 7-8, 16-17; John 21:17. It means you will pray for the Spirit's help constantly and you be fill yourself with the Truth that brings righteousness, rather than the crud from this world: Philippians 1:9-11. It means you will forget the ways of the world that promise happiness, and trust Him.
We know that we have to be free from the overwhelming effects of habitual sin to be used [Did that count you out already?  Then get to work!] What is the next thing God desires from those He wants to use? Even if we are walking righteously, we will so often be caught up in watching out for our own interests, our own families, and our own life, that just like the soldiers who wouldn't even respond to the call at all, we literally do not want to commit to being used of God anywhere else. Living for God does not simply begin and end with raising good children, and living good lives. God wants His Beloveds to have a passion and commitment to doing His will. He wants our appreciation for His blessings, our love for Him, and our love for others to compel us to be His vessels of blessings. He wants us to see that it is our life focus to do His will now. (as it has been His to serve and save us): Galatians 2:20; John 14:12; Matthew 5:13-16; John 15:1-5, 8; Ephesians 2:10. We are to walk this world with the conscious intent and desire to be used of God in any way, at any time, then we will hear Him; then we will see Him do amazing things as He has in the past; then we will have a new excitement for life.
Lastly, there are many who may try to live righteously—who may have a passion to be God's hands and feet in helping others—but due to a lack of faith, or, because they are holding on too tightly, they cannot bring themselves to be ready to give any and all when asked. They are like the soldiers that rescued their own families, and left town. Love for self and life often prevents some of us from being available to love others as Jesus loves, and Jesus cannot use a selfish example of Himself to touch the world. He requires all or nothing when it comes to doing His will. Because that is the only way we can show Jesus, and the world, that He is worth more than anything else to us. That is freedom—that is joy—no limits. Scriptures do not just casually or occasionally hint towards this sacrificial life; they are completely, solidly rooted in this fact. We simply overlook or explain it away for our own peace in order to illustrate how serious God is about this fact, and to allow us to compare our own lives to this principle: John 15:12-13; Philippians 3:7-8; Hebrews 10:32-34; Matthew 19:21; Acts 2:44-45; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29; Matthew 14:13-14. How can we possibly get the notion, if we read a single page if scripture that we are not calked to live sacrificially? If you find it hard or radical to live a life of sacrifice, ask yourself, “What would I do to keep my family safe with me?” Would I leave my job? Live at lower social levels? Loss my health? If you would, then maybe it's not that Scriptures are too radical, but that we are not sacrificially in love with Christ as we claim.
And if you ever wonder what possible difference you alone could make for Christ, consider this: Moses freed a nation; Paul transformed the entire Non-Jewish world for all ages; Peter built the foundation for the Church that still exists today; Joseph saved the known world from starvation; Daniel's faithfulness as a slave saved the soul of one of the greatest tyrant rulers in history; one poor widower on the verge of starvation was used to save the life of one of God's greatest prophets; a simple, uneducated teenager brought the Savior to the world.
Decide now, that it is your calling and responsibility to be the one that always gives time, money and resources sacrificially. That always stops to help. That will be a part of God's plan wherever it takes you. That will love the unlovable. That will step out and expect God to move in a miraculous way. Your one act of sacrificial kindness, your faith lived out in front of a desperate, seeking person, your love for someone who doesn't deserve it, your service to God's work that brings His Word and Plan could very possibly be the one thing that changes a life here on earth and for all of eternity. Our generation, our time, is no different from any other in God's history. God does—God will—still work through us today. Actually, we may be one of the most crucial generations in history to be used in God's Plan powerfully. Do you want to be a part, or not? If you do not, you need to consider whether you are really interested in following Christ. If you do, then decide now what it will take to be one of the few people that God can and will work through—no matter the cost.
Are you hungering after righteousness? Are you passionately looking to do His will? Are you ready to live sacrificially to show His love? Will you be the one to always say yes when He speaks? When the broken world hurts, and God wants to love them—let it be me {you}.