Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The missionary, Hudson Taylor, once said, "God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him." Isn’t this a very good word for those of us who are pretty much regular folks seeking to be faithful to God in our times.
Sometimes the enemy whispers into our ear that our faith is weak and that we are not capable of offering significant ministries for Christ. I don't agree with the enemy too often, but I do on this. In ourselves we are incapable of doing anything for God, but, then, it's not about us. It's about God. Somebody once said that God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
When God shows up, ill prepared fishermen become "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19). When God shows up, the gates of hell tremble and fall (Matt. 16:18). When God shows up, Jesus builds His Church and gives His Church "the keys of the kingdom of heaven," and then commissions that church to bind and loose in His name throughout the earth (Matt. 16:19). When God shows up the words goes forth, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17).
Perhaps the question of this age to the regular folks is, "Are we ready to follow Him?" If the answer is "Yes," then go for it. Let's put our life together into the sovereign care of Almighty God, and "immediately" follow Jesus (Matt. 4:20, 22). Just go for it. As we walk in obedience, God will qualify us. As we keep saying yes to Jesus, God will keep opening and closing all necessary doors. As we live for the One who is the Lord of life, God will take care of outcomes. We are free to abide in Christ and share the fruit of that abiding relationship. We are free to love like Jesus loves.
As we follow Him He might even roll away from some nearby tomb a boulder that is in the way. That would be something, wouldn't it? But then He's already done that, hasn't He?
- Rick
