How does God use us?
We are His children. Galatians 3:26-29, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
As children are growing expectations, responsibilities and privileges grow with them. Some things are modeled from infancy, like love. We demonstrate love each day until it becomes a given that we love each other. Other things are explained, modeled and expected as the child grows. For example mom might say, “This is what a clean room looks like”, and then, “this is how to clean your room”, and finally, “keep your room clean”. There are also special instructions that arise such as, “Go to the store and buy hamburger for dinner”.
As members of God’s household we have;
- general instruction
Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
- specific mission
Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- special tasks
Acts 8:26, “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
This pattern is found in the life of Gideon in Judges 6&7. When God called Gideon he called him according to his calling and not his circumstance. He was called to be a mighty man of valor and so he was called, circumstance notwithstanding. We are God’s children called to Christ likeness, circumstance notwithstanding. Gideon’s circumstances were not suggestive of either might or valor but he was caused to be what he was called to be. Our circumstances probably don’t make the world think Jesus has come back and is walking among them but the works of God we are called to will be made manifest, circumstance notwithstanding.
Israel had a general instruction to worship the LORD alone. God started Gideon with obeying this general instruction. Gideon responded by destroying the altar of Baal. As a specific mission God gave Gideon the role of delivering Israel from oppression. The things God has called us to do may be one of the offices of the church or one of the giftings of the Holy Spirit or some other mission that God has for you. God steers moving ships. Do what you are doing for his glory and with all your heart and see where he leads. Gideon also received a special task of going into the enemy camp and spying on them. What he received by obeying was encouragement. By being willing to obey Gideon was transformed from weakness and fear to a true mighty man of valor.
Read Psalm 23. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Our Father loves us and we belong to him as children belong to a family. Human families grow and change and are marred by sin but our eternal home is perfect. 1 John 4:18-19, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.
brotherpayne 