Bloom where you are planted!

She is a quiet person of a gentle spirit who also serves faithfully, keeps her commitments, and loves her family. Yet, she wondered … aloud to me, with sadness, "Why doesn't God use me?"  Her conclusion was mistaken. Somehow she had started to think that a real call of God will require going to a mission on the other side of the globe, starting a brand new ministry supported by hundreds, or doing some great and notable thing. I did not discern pride, just an earnest desire to know and live in God’s will. 

In our conversation, I tried to help her to change her understanding about the ‘will of God.’  It was clear to me that the Lord was using her, that she was His servant. She needed to know that God's plans and purposes will always start right where we are, in the life we are presently living. My goal was to urge her to contentment without complacency, to do what she could right now, and leave tomorrow to His sovereign will.

This much is clear to me - If God cannot trust us to faithfully serve Him in our home, around the friends we have now, why would He call us to greater responsibilities? If He cannot capture our attention when we practice our daily spiritual disciplines, why would He entrust us with a wider call that brings even more distractions into our lives?  Jesus said it like this - "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" (Luke 16:10-11, NLT)

When I was a very young minister, I prayed that the Lord would let me do something of “real importance for Him, that I might speak and teach before many people.”  At the time I believed that big was best, that numbers validated the service. My immaturity robbed me of the joy found in humble service, in knowing the approval of the One. I clearly remember in my time of prayer in a small chapel when I He spoke to me so clearly - "Jerry, do you want to speak to many because you have something to say, or just because you want to be heard?" What a rebuke. I have never forgotten it. Service that is done with an eye on the audience, service that is measuring the applause, service that seeks reward other than God's approval - is soon corrupt and insincere.

Christian, are you waiting for some special set of circumstances to develop in order to feel that you are be used of God?

Do you think that your place is too small, your gifts insignificant, your service unnoticed?

I urge you to be faithful today. Let God use you in the small ways, the hidden places. Leave the results and rewards to Him. The truth is that you may have more impact for the Kingdom in your own home and/or family or among your immediate circle of friends than in any other place in the world. God uses us all - if we make ourselves available and obey today.  When Jesus’ disciples fought among themselves over rank and status, He taught them about true greatness: “Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.”  (Lk 22:25-26)

Here is a word from the Word.
"Stop bragging! Quit telling me how great you are.”
Our Lord and our God, victory doesn’t come from the east or the west or from the desert.
You are the one who judges.
You can take away power and give it to others." (Psalm 75:5-7, CEV)

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Make Me A Servant

Make me a servant, humble and meek.

Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.

And may the prayer of my heart always be,

“Make me a servant, make me a servant,

Make me a servant today.”

Kelly Willard © 1982 CCCM Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

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