God doesn't call people who are qualified. He calls people who are willing, and then He qualifies them. Richard Parker
If you have ever prayed: "God, I'll go anywhere You want me to go; I'll do anything You want me to do," then you shouldn’t be surprised when He asks you to go somewhere or do something. Our very willingness motivates our heavenly Father to move in our lives!
We find several instances in Scripture where God used a willing vessel, beginning in Genesis 41.
Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream...(vs. 4a) Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (vs. 14-16)
We know the rest of the story. Joseph made himself available to be used, and God used him. His position in life changed greatly as a result.
Let's imagine for a moment that Joseph had not made himself available.
"I'm comfortable down here in this prison..."
. . .he might have said. "It may be a little damp and dreary, but they give me three hot meals a day. Besides, this is where all of my friends are. I've had a hard enough life. I just want to be left alone." As strange as that may sound, we often do just that! Even our "bad" situations become almost comfortable. We justify our apathy with a shrug, and make remarks like "I've had a hard life. I just want to be left alone."
Joseph might never have made it out of the four walls of that prison cell with an attitude like that! Do you suppose he would have been placed in a position of authority? Would he have been reunited with his brothers and father? I guess we will never really know the answers to those questions. God might have given him another opportunity to be used, but I'm convinced that Joseph was eternally grateful for the opportunity to exercise his faith and to respond in obedience!
What about Daniel?
Daniel was another young man who made himself available to be used by God. On more than one occasion he was used, like Joseph, to interpret the dreams of an ungodly King. God also gave Daniel many prophetic visions, which he recorded with clarity. I believe that Daniel proved himself to be trustworthy to God...and more important...a willing vessel. How many Daniels do you know? Are you one?
Obviously there are far too many instances of a "willing heart" in the Bible for us to mention here. We could talk about Peter making himself available to heal the crippled beggar in Acts 3:1. We could discuss how Paul stepped out in faith to raise Eutycus from the dead in Acts 20. We could see Phillip's willingness to share with the Ethophian eunuch as they traveled along that road together. We could discuss the fact that all of these were not accidents, but rather, divine "incidents."
Speaking of Miracles...
Jesus performed miracles that were truly amazing. Yet He Himself said, "Greater this than this will you do...." referring to us. So why are we so surprised when He asks us to remain in a position of availability? Clean hands, a pure heart, readiness, and a deep abiding relationship are His only requirements.
Throughout history men and women have made themselves available to be used by God. Consider the words of John Eliot, (1604-1690), known as the "Apostle to the Indians."
We must not sit still and look for miracles; up and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. Prayer and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, will do anything.
(Eerdmans' Handbook to Christianity in America, c. 1983)
"Up and be doing" are the key words here.
Be diligent in your work for the Lord, and he will honor it by working through you.
Another great historical figure who was willing to go where God sent him was the great missionary to Africa - David Livingstone...("Dr. Livingstone, I presume.") He gave up a comfortable life in England, braving the jungles of Africa, ready to give up everything he held dear. Why? God had placed a call on his life, and he made himself available for use. He knew that unless he submitted to the call, he would never be content. The desire to see souls saved was far too great! Obedience always follows willingness. Willingness is birthed out of relationship. Livingstone's relationship with Africa was birthed from a conversation with Robert Moffat, the great missionary to Africa. Moffat had shared with Livingstone the fact that he had seen the smoke of "a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been." David could not get these words out of his mind!
WHERE NO MISSIONARY HAS EVER BEEN! When David heard these words, he knew what lay ahead of him in life. He just knew. "I will go at once to Africa," he had said to Moffat. (David Livingstone by Dan Larsen; 1992 by Barbour and Company)
Life was not easy for David Livingstone. He applied to the London Missionary Society, which sent him to South Africa. This was just the beginning of many years of joy and sorrow. David went through many pains and sufferings to do the bidding of the Lord. Some might say that bad things don't happen to people who live godly lives. They might argue that his faith should have been stronger. Ridiculous. David Livingstone represented everything that God called a missionary to be - willing, humble and obedient. His life and personal happiness was secondary to the preaching of the gospel. From the very beginning he was willing to do anything God called him to do...to go anywhere God called him to go. This was the key.
David Livingstone was not the only man of God who laid down his life for the call. He was not the only missionary who suffered for the sake of the gospel. Consider the words of the following letter, written by Missionary to China Mrs. Elizabeth Graham during the Boxer Rebellion in August of 1900.
My Dear, Dear Ones, I have tried to gather courage to write to you once more. How am I to write all the horrible details of these days? I would rather spare you. The dear ones at Shouyang, seven in all, including our lovely girls, were taken prisoners and ...beheaded...(United States History in Christian Perspective, Heritage of Freedom, pg. 451, Michael R. Lowman, ABeka Books Publications)
Elizabeth went on to disclose the horrors of their situation. A proclamation had been made, stating that whoever would kill them would be doing the Governor a great service. Elizabeth reacted in an amazing way. She declared that she did not regret her call to go to China. Imagine that! In the very face of death, this brave woman still did not regret God's call on her life. She still had a willingness to be where God had called her to be!
Elizabeth expressed her love for her family, stated her wish to see them once again, and then resolved herself to face the death that lay ahead. Her "willingness" took her all the way through the process. This precious letter was written shortly before Elizabeth Graham was martyred. It was found after the fact, (behind a brick in her home, which had been burnt to the ground).
Brothers and sisters, I do not add these stories to "scare you away" from being used. As a "servant of the Lord" you will probably never go through anything compared to what these people went through. Grumbling and complaining about our circumstances is awfully hard to do in the face of a story like Elizabeth Graham's.
If only our hearts were as ready, as willing as these godly men and women. But they can be! We must remain available, regardless of our difficulties. Our "willingness" is the key that opens the doors of God's divine opportunities. Availability is a wonderful thing. You will find that God uses you in ways that you never dreamed of. Your obedience blesses the heart of God. God's hand on your life blesses you.
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