Ready, Willing and Able

Have you ever felt like God was waiting for you to do something for Him but have held off doing so because of your own insecurities or fears? One of your many excuses may sound like this: “Why would God want to use me to do something big for His kingdom when He could use ‘so and so’ who is much more talented than I am?” Or, “I just don’t have that kind of time and energy. Lord.” There is an entire myriad of possibilities that could keep you from moving forward in the direction God desires for you. You may not have even given much thought to what God wants to do through you. Before you get down on yourself remember that even Moses did that. When God appointed Him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he did nothing but make excuses to God for why he was not equipped to do such a monumental task. But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11. The problem is that he forgot that the One who called Him would also be the One to equip him. Even after God told Moses that He would be with him and gave him numerous signs like burning bushes, staffs being turned into snakes, and his hand becoming leprous, Moses still had his doubts. What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The Lord did not appear to you?” Exodus 4:1. He was looking inward at his own inadequacy and inability, but God was looking for his availability.

I believe that God does that same thing with His children today. He has called each one of us to be His ambassadors to a broken, hurting, and lost world, and even though we truly believe that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer, we often fail to participate in the Great Commission. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples the command to “Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Like Moses, Isaiah was also commissioned by God to preach repentance to Israel and Judah, as well as the impending doom, deliverance and restoration of Israel. Can you imagine the opposition he would encounter with such a message? Yet we’re told in Isaiah 6:8-9 that he told the Lord to send him. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Unlike Moses, Isaiah was bold for the Lord. He was ready to accept God’s invitation to join Him in going and doing things that in his own strength he could not do. On the other hand, Moses told the Lord he was slow of speech and begged him to please send someone else. “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue…O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” Exodus 4:10-13. Even though the Lord became angry at Moses, He was willing to allow his brother Aaron to accompany him. I love how gracious the Lord was to Moses, but He still insisted that Moses would be the one through whom God would speak. “You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth. I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.” Exodus 4:15.

This story gives me the courage to move forward when fear or my own insecurities take hold of me. I know in my mind that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The question is, “Do I believe that in my heart?” This is where the rubber hits the road and where truth faith comes in. It does not matter if it is a leap of faith or just one small step of faith, the question remains, “What is God commissioning You to do?” Faith as defined in Hebrews 11:1 is “being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.” If you could see it with your own eyes, then it probably would not be faith. Faith must be released in order to grow. How do you release your faith? First and foremost, through prayer. Second, by expectantly believing, and third, by doing. Pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you what He is calling you to do at this stage in your life. Maybe it is simply to forgive someone who hurt you. Maybe it is the patience to wait for an answer from Him or maybe it is a more definitive action. Then believe that it shall come to pass. Expectantly look for opportunities knowing in your heart that if God calls you, He will also equip you. When you believe it is time to act or move forward, then confidently do so, knowing that He is the one empowering you and making you competent as a minister of a new covenant (2 Cor 3:6).

What good is it if you keep your Christianity to yourself? Most of the world is lost and hurting, and God wants you to participate in the joy of seeing others come to faith in Christ. What could be more satisfying than to be available and partner with Him in bringing comfort or help to someone in need? One more thing—don’t ever belittle or compare your calling. You may not be called to evangelize by standing behind a pulpit and preaching, but you are evangelizing every time you bring a smile to a hurting soul, feed the hungry, start a ministry, clothe the orphan, love the widow, listen attentively, or give to the needy. This doesn’t necessarily involve monetary funds either. But it will cost you something. It will be sacrificial because it may cost you your time, your special talents and abilities, or something else that is valuable to you. This is an investment that will be well worth it for you will be investing in something eternal—the souls of many others.

Now, are you ready, willing, and able to get out of your comfort zone for Christ and a lost world? Come on, let’s go…we have work to do.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Cor 2:14-15

“Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” 2 Cor 3:4-5

"We are Christ's ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us." 2 Cor 5:20