According to His Power

My 80-year-old friend, Mr. Willie, is the hardest working, most helpful, and resourceful man I know. I can’t recall a time when he got flustered or didn’t have a solution for a problem. He’s the epitome of a man who takes things in stride. Whereas my default is to think of the expertise and tools I don’t have to fix something, he’s quick to start thinking and applying the expertise and tools he already has to get the job done.

Recently we faced a similar predicament and Willie went to work, and sure enough, in short order we were back in business. When he finished, he looked at me and said, “See, take what you have; make what you want”. I smiled once again in admiration, and considered his comment. He didn’t say “take what you have; make what you can”, or “get what you need; make what you want”, but rather, “take what you have; make what you want”. I started to think through this in relation to our spiritual giftedness, and how God might view our resourcefulness and application, or lack thereof, with what He has already provided.

In Matthew 28, we receive the great commission, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations”. That’s a daunting task; how many of us actually consider ourselves adequately prepared or capable? Probably not many, yet, He says ‘Go’. Consider now the young lad in Matthew 14 with the five loaves and two fish. He certainly wouldn’t have logically considered himself or his provisions to be of any real benefit to the need at hand, yet, when Andrew pointed out his little lunch, he was willing to offer what he had to the service of Christ. If I were to inject myself into the passage, I would have logically concluded the inadequacy of my provision. Thank God the lad didn’t so we can have another example of the power and all sufficiency of Christ. May we remember that the power of God is not in the tools we have or the provisions we possess, but in Him who gives the tools and uses them ‘according to His power’ (Ephesians 3). Be like the lad; offer what you have to the service of Christ, and let Him make what He wants.

Lord, thank You for Your unique provision in my life. I take what I have and offer it to Your service; make what You want. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. What an immeasurable privilege it is to love You. AMEN