Are You Ready For God To Use You?

I think we all know the story of the two brothers that owned a bicycle shop that decided mankind really needed to fly.  What?!  They were just a couple of bike riders, that's all they ever did.  Oh yes, they even fixed a few of them.  But really, there was a gnawing in their minds that wouldn't go away.  This was the vision of air travel which to that point had never been done...at least when accompanied with a surviveable landing.  Yes, every landing you walk away from is a good landing.  But Orville and Wilbur didnt have such nifty little sayings.  They risked their lives to do what others failed to do.  Fly. 

Isnt it amazing how we translate the need for experience and the precedence of success to the mission of the gospel message?  How much of this mindset has grown to become the numero uno immobilizer of the Church today?  Where has the adventurous spirit of the Church gone?  Are we not called to take risks to follow the Lord in His call and destiny for our lives?  Have we become far to addicted to the comfort of familiarity??  Yes, to all the above.  The good news is that we can change this by starting with us.  First, let us rid ourselves of the need for experience before we start something (ludicrous thought it seems). My first pastor had this crazy habit of calling on people out of the congregation to pray over the offering.  He loved to do that.  One bright and wonderful Sunday morning the Lord gave me the heads-up that he was going to call me.  Gulp.  Vicki and I were so young and experienced in the Lord in those days.  We had been saved maybe 2 months when pastor May called on me.  With an adventurous attempt I hopped on the opportunity.  How did it go?  Well, to my complete surprise there weren't many lined up after the service to get my endorsement on their praying ability or for my autograph.  But neither was I kicked out of the church which was really more in line with my expectations.  Instead, I learned a very comforting and revealing lesson that day....that as a prophetic person in the making, it is the Lord whom will prepare me and He doesnt need a great deal of time to warn me.  In fact, He likes it that way.  Gulp, again. 

Over the years I have seen so many that have needed to recapture the raw feeling of adventure.  The Abundant Life that Jesus promised us is in conflict with our need for the comfort of experience.  This is the first sign of a lack in faith.  Faith does not remove all need of preparing for a mission or a work but it sure does help in uncomfortable times where we want to rely on past experience and success.  Just remember that Peter really did walk on the water.  I'm wondering if he ever did that again.  And do remember that Peter stepped out when the waves threatened to sink the boat in the middle of the night.  Not ideal conditions for your first water-walking.  Faith is manifest best when everything depends on God for success.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.

So, are you ready for God to use you? Do you think that you need more experience? Or that you need to have your life even more in order than it is? If this is so.....you are not ready. 

Aren't you glad the Wright Bros didnt wait to perfect the airplane before they attempted the first flight?  If they had we would still be taking the train.