You can be Ready or You can be Used

In Devotional by Andy ComerLeave a Comment

"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God." 2 Corinthians 3:5

Ready or Not

I'm not sure if we're ever "ready" to do what God calls us to do–at least not from man's perspective. We tend to believe if we just had more faith, more time, more money, more people, more knowledge, more whatever, then we'd be ready to act up God's calling. The truth is there will always be an excuse to wait a little longer. 

Here's the thing, you can be ready or you can be used. 

Preparation is wise, but if you're waiting for 100% preparation in order to feel ready, you may never be used. There comes a point when you have to obey on faith, even when you don't feel ready. 

If you're putting off what God's calling you to do, using lack of preparation as an excuse, you have more than an obedience issue. You have a trust issue. You're trusting in you…your ability, your faith, your knowledge, your whatever. 

 

Credit Robbing

If we could somehow become 100% ready for the callings God places in our lives, we'd be setting ourselves up to take credit for the outcomes. It would be easy to brag, "Look what I did!" or "Look what I accomplished!" We would be robbing God of praise that rightfully belongs to Him. 

Paul recognized the source of his sufficiency. It wasn't in his well educated religous background. It wasn't in his passionate zeal for righteousness. He rightfully claimed, "Our adequacy is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5). 

You and I must daily recognize our complete and total dependence upon the Lord. I can't do, think, or say anything good without Him. Even Jesus told us, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

"Our sufficiency is of God; let us practically enjoy this truth.  We are poor, leaking vessels, and the only way for us to keep full is to put our pitcher under the perpetual flow of boundless grace.  Then, despite its leakage, the cup will always be full to the brim." – Charles Spurgeon

 

Sufficient Grace

If Jesus is our source of sufficiency, let us be faithful to spend time with Him daily. Open up God's Word and feast in the Bread of Life. And in those moments when you miss the mark and fall prey to sin, remember the life-giving words of your Savior, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). 

Don't let "readiness" keep you from being used. Step out in faith today, and say, "Yes" to God's calling on your life. It's time to grow forward! 

 

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