Wait...God called ME?

God did it again. He answered your prayer...the one you've been stressing over for quite a while now. You have invited almost everyone you know to pray too. The opportunity you felt you did not deserve; yet, boldly asked that God would miraculously give to you anyways. The one you've had to continually place in God's more-than-capable hands.  Does God want me to...go down this path, study at that school, receive this job, have this child, go to this country, date this man, write this book, participate in this event, lead this Bible Study...ect.? 

It was a long-shot but God is faithful and He provided! He called you to do it! He wants you to participate in His Kingdom work. He wants to use you! Uh Oh. Here comes the doubts....How can God use me when I've done ______. I have not idea what I am doing. I am SO unqualified for this position. How am I going to succeed when she/he is already playing this role so well? 

It is exciting to be used by God. It is humbling to be called by the Creator of the universe to do something big, something that will impact eternity. God hears us, shows up, answers our prayer and grows us closer to Him than ever before. But after the shock and awe wear off, we are left with our insecurities. We are left with our weaknesses. We are left with ourselves. The pressure is on. 

In Exodus 31 and 35 we see God using the people of Israel to complete his work: building the tabernacle of the Lord. Now THAT'S a lot of pressure! The Lord laid out detailed instructions for each part of the tabernacle. This tabernacle was more than just a place. It was where the people would interact with their Holy God. This project would create the sacred dwelling place of the Lord God Almighty. 

These passages offer us, those whom God has called, 3 important truths: 


1. God does not need us to do His Work. The Lord could have built the tabernacle Himself. He could have built it just the way He wanted with less effort and less time. But God wanted the Israelites to participate in His will for their benefit. When we obey God's calling, we are not doing him a favor; He blesses us. When we serve God, we are not adding to His worth; We magnify His worth. 

2. God wants a willing spirit. God may not need our skills, money, talents, or hands, but He does want our willing hearts. The Israelites did not lend a hand or a penny unless their hearts were moved to do so. Our time and gifts are unacceptable to the Lord if given out of obligation, pride, or duty. We love because God first loved us. We give because of all God has given us. We serve God because Jesus gave us the freedom to do so! Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light.  Serving the Lord is not a burden but an opportunity to thank Him and receive His blessings.

All the men and women the people of Israel, whose hearts moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought forth it as a freewill offering to the Lord (Exodus 35:29).

Check your heart. Don't just ask how you want to serve but why you want to serve. Matthew Henry highlights 4 key attributes of a willing heart as seen in the Israelites: 

1) Love to God and his service, 2) a desire of his presence with them in his ordinances, 3) gratitude for the great things he had done for them, and 4) faith in his promise of what he would further do (Henry).

3. God equips us to do His Work. This is the biggest reminder we need! God equips us with everything we need for a life in godliness. God puts into us intangible gifts (patience, courage, faith, grace, love, selflessness ect.). And He also puts into us tangible gifts (public speaking, service, teaching, writing, designing, salesmanship, engineering ect.). God has given you the necessary skills to accomplish His plan and the ability to grow those skills. In Exodus, we read that God gave the Israelites the heart and the talent to successfully build His tabernacle. 

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship. Exodus 31:3

God will not just call you then leave you on your own to get the job done.  No, you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that you should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)! He filled you with wisdom, truth, and understanding while you were still in your mother's womb! 

You delight in truth in the inward being, you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Psalm 51

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding in the heart? Job 38 

Serving God is an invitation to cheerfully give our God-given gifts so that we can thank God, share the gospel, and receive His blessings. 

God's grace is enough. When you rely on Him, His strength outshines our weakness. He will not leave us on our own. While His Kingdom work often beckons us outside of our comfort zone, He does His best work when we leave our idols behind. Remember who you are serving and why you are serving. We serve God to thank Him and draw nearer to Him. We serve others to draw them nearer to Jesus. 

For what we proclaim is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness.' has sone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 2 Corinthians 4 

♡ God, I am so humbled and thankful that you would use me to complete your work. I give you my insecurities, worries, weaknesses, doubts, and idols. Replace my fears with faith and my selfishness with a willing heart. Remind me of all you have done in my life. My life is a blank check for you to fill out. Use me, God. I am excited to watch you work! Amen. 

☎︎

The Girl Next Door