Being a Tool - Acts 9:15

Fathers...Fatherhood is such an honor. To be given the privilege, responsibility, and challenge to raise your children, you should be thankful. Also, God chose to give you your kids because you have an ability to love and care for them that others don't. What a cool thought!

Yesterday, we looked at an instance in Saul's (of the New Testament) life where he was to go and find a man named Ananias who was going to take care of the blindness he was experiencing. Saul had been an evil man, up to this point, and Ananias was nervously scared to approach him. However, Ananias is told to "go" because Saul is a "chosen instrument", aka tool. He was selected to carry out a specific task based on the abilities that he possessed. Here are a few applications to choose from to use this week...

1. If you were a tool in a workshop, do you view yourself as "usable", or do you envision a tool that is marred and broken, not able to be used? Are you surprised you're still in the workshop? Once Saul came to his senses, after being humbled by the temporary blindness, I bet he felt ashamed and not capable of being used. However, God used him for BIG things! Part of that reason was because he continually understood who's in control, and it wasn't him, but God. Practice the Isaiah 6:8 philosophy and be used by God!
   
2. When I think of a tool, it "serves" me in a way to help achieve a goal. My favorite verse on serving is I Peter 4:10, it encourages and challenges me, at same time, to use what talents I have been given to serve others faithfully. Be the tool that God designed you to be!
3. Ananias asked God, "Do you really want me to go to Saul?" (paraphrased) God said "Go!" How many times have we had a "scary" task before us and we asked God "Do you really...?" Pray that you will be trusting of God's challenges. Pray that you will be bold enough to walk through the door of Opportunity. Pray that God will use you, today, in surprising, Kingdom-enhancing ways. Be the tool and be used the way that God designed you! You weren't chosen for the task based on popularity...but because you have talent/usefulness that is able to get that job done at that particular time. Be used!

I greatly look forward to what each and every day holds, regarding how God will use "my design" as a way to make a positive difference in someone's life. I hope you share in that, also. How has God been using you? By you sharing, it will encourage others in their faith.

Eager to be used...