COMMENTARY: God uses the person who is following His mission

Have you ever wondered why God uses a particular person or a certain church? Have you ever looked at them and wondered what they had that you did not have? Have you ever wished that you could be more involved in God’s mission?

I believe there are at least four observations we can make about people or churches that God uses …

God uses the person who is following His mission. As Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God, most of us pray, “Lord, bless what I’m doing” when we should be praying, “Lord, help me to do what you are blessing!” God will bless those who are focusing on HIS mission instead of focusing on THEIR mission.

God uses the person who is willing to risk failure. Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Acts 15:26 reminds us that Paul and Barnabas “risked their lives for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Honestly, our lifestyle is far removed from the book of Acts. We live domesticated lives with very little risk resulting from our Christian faith. I’m not suggesting that we should take foolish risks for no reason, but we should be willing to go anywhere God leads and attempt anything God says we should attempt, even if there’s no guarantee of success.

God uses the person who expects to be used. Jesus told the two blind men, “According to your faith will it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29). A “faith factor” is required when it comes to serving God. Do we truly believe He will fulfill the promises in His Word pertaining to His mission?

God uses the person who never gives up. Paul reminds us to “not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Most people miss the harvest simply because they quit too soon. The harvest takes time, but God’s timing is always perfect. We should NEVER give up. Sometimes the game is won on a last-second shot … on a two-out blast … on a hail-Mary heave.

A few years ago, my mom’s youngest brother went home to be with the Lord. As I sat and heard his children, my first cousins, talk about what a wonderful father he was and what a godly example he was, I was reminded that we should serve God passionately. We should serve Him daily. We should serve Him to the very end of our lives. We should finish the course, keep the faith, fulfill His mission. That is the kind of person God uses.

Steve Rice is leader of the Church Consulting & Revitalization Team of the Kentucky Baptist Convention.