The words “I can’t” and most men I know seldom go together. One of the things we pride ourselves on is being able to figure out how to do just about anything. We love when the mechanic gives us an $800 quote and we fix it for $300. We love when our wife tell us to call a plumber and we fix it on our own. We love taking down the elusive buck or setting a new athletic PR. Yet, here is something I have often encountered in ministry. Our confidence in being able to tackle any task often fades away when we are asked to serve God. Our willingness to try new things and take on seemingly impossible challenges disintegrates when we have the opportunity to share the gospel, lead a new ministry, or donate our time, talents, and treasure sacrificially. Why is it that when the call to serve God comes we are so often unwilling to answer it?
Let’s take a look at the first mission Jesus laid out for his disciples in Matthew 10:5-11:
These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.
None of that looks easy does it? Jesus is basically telling the disciples to go out of an extended evangelism mission without taking any resources with them. No money, no suitcase, no caravan of camels laden with supplies. It’s basically them and the clothes on their backs. Not only that, look at the tasks he was asking of them. They were to go into new cities, go door to door, share Jesus’ controversial new message, and heal and cast out demons. Never mind that until this point those had been wonders performed only by Jesus. How were they supposed to fulfill this mission?
The answer is found in first one of this chapter: Jesus “called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” I pray you get the following point today: when God calls you to do something He gives you the authority to do it. He gives you His authority, power, and blessing to do His work. Not only that, he equips you for it by giving you spiritual gifts. Look, I fully understand that every time an opportunity comes up to serve God may not be God calling you to it. But, sometimes He will. Prayerfully consider the opportunities that come your way. If you feel God nudging you, trust Him to use you. He will give you His authority, help you use your gifts, and be with you as you make an impact (whether it seems large or small) for His Kingdom.
