Everyone's Got something to Say

There's a purpose for everyone's life. A voice with a message that can be used. All that's needed is the willingness to open the mouth and push air through to vocalize the words of redemption and hope that could, no, that will change the life of someone who hears. A pair of feet with a destination in store. All that's needed is the willingness to exercise the muscles and move forward down the path that leads int a life of someone who's alone and desperate. A pair of hands with a task before them. All that's needed is the willingness to flex the fingers and begin to make the difference in the reamins of a life that's been bombarded by circumstances. An entire world of people are waitng for a a voice, a pair of feet, or a pair of hands with the willingness to dedicte themselves to making the difference their lives need. So why don't we put the willingness into these things. Why do we sit there believing that we can't do anything when we have the voice, feet, and hands? Why do we doubt when we have the promise of provision and all that's necessary is our action?

Is it that we feel inadequate? Look at Gideon; a man who was not only a member of the least of the Tribes of Judah, but he was the least of its members. He doubted God's words three different times and only had an army of 300 men. Even with all of this, God used him to defeat Israel's strongest and mightiest enemies with only clay pots and trumpets. Or how about Deborah, a woman in a culture not only dominated by men, but placed such little value on women. In spite of this, she became one of Israel's strongest judges leading many troops into victorious battle.

Maybe you have a history that haunts you still today. Then take a look at Rahab. She was a prostitute in a country that did not believe in God and had done so many terrible things. Yet she took in God's messengers and protected them and in return recieved protection for herself and her family. She later became an ancestor of King David and the world's salvation Jesus Christ. Or how about Paul, a man that killed the followers of Christ. He spent years hunting down Christians and in order to squelch the movement of the Gospel through the world. Yet, one day God opened even his eyes to his will and called him to the unexpected. Paul reached thousands of people during his life and continues to reach millions today through his writings.

Or maybe you just don't have the means to carry out your purpose. Look at Ruth. A widow in a culture where women were quantified by their husbands and their families. All she had was a widowed mother-in-law in a foreign land. No money, no food, nothing. Yet, she trusted the God of her mother-in-law and did what she could do and God took care of the rest bringing her what she needed and so much more. Then there's Job who had everything taken away. His family, his money, his wealth, and even his relationships with others. Left in a place that seemed desolate and full of despair, he still trusted in God and he was blessed with twice that of what he had before.

Knowing all of this why do we stand still with our mouths shut. Why do we assume we can't do anything. Its time we truly start relying on and trusting in God. There is so much to be done and God has called his followers to do so. God rarely call the equipped, those who have everthing handed to them without any problems, but rather he calls those who have very little so that he can equip them. Those who must have faith in God's promise to provide what they need. Those who look past the hands of God and search out his face.

So how do we do this? How did these people have such faith or stay strong through the hard times? How could they make that step into the unknown? Looking at these people I see three things that were such an encouragement or source of strength.

For Paul, it was a very obvious palpable foundation for his faith. Sometimes for a few people like Paul, God blinds us with this grand revelation. He blinds us to the chaos of the world and the doubt in our hearts by giving us this bright sign that catches our eyes and our hearts. He gives us that very visible sign that changes the path that we are on and revitalizes our strength to stand in His promises. These are moments that are great and refreshing, but rarely does God come in anything other than the still, quiet voice that we need to have our ears tuned to. So let's first focus on God on our own so he does not need to blind us for that focus.

The first thing we need to do to develop the faith and strength that these people had is to develop the relationship with God. Several of these people had a relationship with God. They knew God and knew the things that he had already done for them. They knew his character. If you think about it, who are the people you trust the most. The ones that you have faith in will come through for you. Its those that you have a relationship with. Those that you know well and have spent time to get to know and understand. There needs to be that kind of relationship with God. The kind that is growing and supported by time spent learning about Him.

The second important thing that we need is to surround ourselves with others who have a relationship with God. There were people such as Rahab that didn't know God, but saw the faith that the messengers who came to her house that day did have and what God had done for them and their people. Through those men's relationships with God, Rahab was able to trust in God to provide for her and her family if she protected his messengers. We need to surround ourselves with people that have a relationship with God so that we have a support system. So that when we can not see God moving in our lives we can see his power in other believers reminding us that God works still today in his own time. Share these moments in your life and in the lives of those around you.

My challenge to anyone who reads this and to myself is to not push God to having to blind us. Yes, it makes it easier and provides the feelings that we long for to validate God's existence, but lets push ourselves to have a faith. We have so much on record of God's victory and the love He has for His people. What more proof do we need? Its time to plant our feet firmly on his shoulders and trust He won't drop us. Trust that he will never leave nor forsake us.

Everyone has something to say and a purpose from God to fulfill. Do not let the things that god has promised to take care of for us hinder us. Let's focus our attention on God and the lives that are depending on our willingness. Share what God has given you!