As a child I remember
looking into my dad’s collection of tools and thinking, “Wow, look at all those
different tools”. I had no idea what most of them were used for but I knew that
my dad knew! He would ask me for a Crescent Wrench or a Phillips Head Screw
driver and after he would explain to me what they looked like I would retrieve them
from the tool box and hand them to my Dad.
I would watch in
amazement as that lifeless tool would go to work on whatever problem we were
trying to solve. That tool which had just been laying there all dirt and greasy
was now meeting the need of the car or building or whatever we were working on.
Similar to that tool we
as Christians are to be tools in the Lord’s Tool box. Sure, He could solve
problems and meet needs by just speaking the word but He desires to use us, his
“tools” or instruments as Romans chapter 6 says. Before we were Children of the
Lord we were in service to “unrighteousness” Rom. 6:19 but now as His
Children we are to serve the Lord just as fervently if not more so.
My challenge to you as
well as to myself is to consider whether you are a tool the Lord can use. Are
you…
* Willing
The Lord will not force
any man or woman into service. He allows us to choose which master we will serve
but make no mistake you must choose and it must be a willing sacrifice. Romans
12:1&2 describe this choice as our “reasonable service”.
* Prepared
A call into action from
the Lord is always preceded by a period of preparation! You see this all throughout
the Scriptures. The 40 days in the wilderness spent by our Lord Jesus Christ
was preparation for the coming public ministry Jesus was about to embark on. There
would be trials and test from day one (i.e.
the temptation of Satan immediately following). If you and I are going to
be effective tools for the Lord we must take the time and opportunities the
Lord allows to prepare ourselves for future service!
* Useable
It has been said that
the greatest ability is availability. Let me ask you; are you available for the
Lord’s use? Is your life in alignment with His word? Are you encumbered by debt
or other worldly weights that are rendering you unavailable or unusable? Hebrews
12:1 says “…let us lay aside every weight…which doth so easily beset us…”. Many Christians are willing to
serve and have taken the time to prepare but still cannot be used because their
life or decisions they have made are hindering them. Is that true of you?
I challenge you to
evaluate your life according the looking glass of God’s Word and ask yourself
if you are a tool in the Lord’s tool box He can reach for and use to meet the
needs of those around you!
