PARTNERS WITH DEITY

 

by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  (2 Peter 1:4)

It is remarkable that a God who needs nothing—omnipotent and omniscient—would take needy creatures such as we are, with all our frailties and follies, and choose to partner with us in accomplishing His work in the world.  Each Sunday I can stand with a Bible in my hand and preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, in partnership with Deity, although I am but flesh.

How grateful we should be, even if we stand in the most obscure place—it is an assignment that is far grander than we could ever merit.  Should I be tasked with a labor suited to my ability, how lowly would that station need to be?  Perhaps standing by a stagnant pond, preaching to frogs in bogs, amid the stench of decay and the sound of buzzing flies? 

Instead, God imparts such grace to me, in that He has always given me an assignment beyond my capacity.  I have been required to throw myself upon Him and plead for more wisdom than I possess, and more strength than I have, or I would have surely failed!  Astonishingly, the Lord has made this useless man a useful tool in His Almighty hands. 

God, do it again this Lord’s Day—and make trash into treasure.  I’m just an old clay pot, but You can fill me with Your power and pour out of me transformational truth.  If You are so pleased to do this, You will receive all the glory!

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

 

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  (1 Samuel 16:7)

All that glitters is not gold.  The evangelical world seems to always be searching for another rock star, when God has most often rocked the world with the obscure man that has a heart for His glory, rather than being impressed with his own credentials.  Just so, when Samuel saw Eliab, the eldest son of Jesse, come before him, the prophet was certain this outstanding piece of humanity must become the new king of Israel—but no.  The runt of the litter, David, was the last called from his task of tending Daddy’s sheep, and yet, he was God’s man.  None other would have chosen him, but God did—and that’s all that mattered.  Why?  He was a man after God’s own heart.  You can’t judge a book by its cover, as the old saying goes.  Inside the boy’s tender cover were pages written full of God’s truth, indelibly inscribed with passion for His purposes.  The heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart.  God will take such raw material and shape it into a vessel He can use.

Now, I may never slay a giant with a slingshot like David, but I can be a soldier of the cross and fight the good fight of faith where God stations me.  It is not likely that I will wear a crown on earth as David did, but I can gain a crown for eternity if I will be faithful to shepherd God’s flock!  What God is looking for is a heart that is linked with His.  May His Spirit inflame us with zeal for His cause and make us pant after Him!  That, dear brother, is the heart of the matter.