The First Goal

The First Goal

Talk about a bad way to start a soccer season: the other team got the opening ball, passed it once to a girl who dribbled through our entire team and scored without anyone even challenging her. It took a total of 5 seconds for us to be behind 1-0. If you're wondering what went wrong, it's very simple. Everyone thought someone else would do it, so nobody did.

The church has a similar problem, so many people think someone else will do it when it comes to sharing their faith, to ministry needs in the church and to other areas of Christian service. We all tend to look at our own talents and abilities and compare ourselves to others who we think are more talented. And because of that, we stay on the sidelines. Unfortunately, so does the more talented person and the job goes undone.

The issue is ability versus availability. We look at ability while God looks at availability. Isaiah 1:19 says "if you are available and obedient, you will eat the good of the land". Notice that there is no mention whatsoever of talents, gifts or abilities in that verse. It's not the most talented or gifted that the Lord will use but the person who says in their heart "Here am I Lord, use me".

When Isaiah said that, he was responding to the Lord asking the question "Who will go for us?". The Lord was asking "who is available for me to use?". In the story of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus took what was available, the five loaves and two fish, and used them to do a miracle. The same will be true in our lives as we present ourselves to the Lord and say "Here I am Lord, I'm available for you to use in whatever way you would like". And then we're to follow that up by making ourselves available in a practical way in our own personal settings.

What set Gideon, Jeremiah, Moses, Peter, John and so many other believers of all ages apart from their peers? Was it their ability or their availablity? My vote is their availability. Their willingness to be used by the Lord, without regard to natural abilities, opened up a world of possiblities and opportunites. If you've been holding back, doubting your own abilities to get the job done, it time to step out in faith, say "Lord I may not be the best, but if you want to use me, I'm all yours." And then get ready for God to do far more than you could ever hope or imagine.

God Bless,
Pastor Joe
Gateway Church