It's not about the ability;
it's about the availability.
So said my brother in Christ, Jeremiah Kiamco, in a bible study years ago.
Though I wasn't there, the truth in those words still echoes in my mind. It is a truth that most of us tend to overlook. Overlooking the truth of those words seems insignificant back then, but now that the kingdom is in need of rebuilding, doing so could be a fatal mistake.
Eons ago our forefathers, the Israelites, returned from captivity by the will of the Lord as authorized by King Cyrus of Persia. Led by Ezra and Nehemiah, they returned to Jerusalem in Judah whose walls have been broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. They started the construction with provisions from the king. Because of the hostilities from the neighbors, they worked with their swords at their sides. Though faced with so many discouragements, the snail-paced construction still managed to become a success because the strong hand of the Lord was with them.
Like our forefathers, we too have returned from our captivity of sin as authorized by our Father, the King and Lord Almighty through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The scene of our return is tough though. The once glorious early Christian church is now reduced to rubbles of cancerous denominations. Let's face it. Gone are the glorious days of the early church.
It cannot be denied that we are called by God as the Ezra and Nehemiah of our days. We are the re-builders of the broken walls of Christianity. Since God's gift and His call are irrevocable, we can't afford to take this honor and privilege lightly.
We are co-workers with and in Christ Jesus. Therefore as the Bride of the Lamb, we are committed to submit to His will and serve Him and Him alone.
Commitment is no joke. It is a decision that has to be made carefully. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. [Ecc. 5:4]
No wonder when asked for a commitment, most of my brothers and sisters in Christ would rather not say anything. Of course that includes me. We are not making commitment with anyone else but God. And we know how many times the Israelites renewed their vows before the Lord and yet failed. We are just humans as they were. We all have the tendency to fail our commitment to God.
What wretched children we are! How can the kingdom benefit from failures like us?
Thanks be to our Lord Jesus Christ who by His eternal love for us, signed an everlasting covenant with the Father through His very own blood. It was He who committed Himself for us to the Father. It was He who said “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.” [Heb. 10:7] It's only Jesus Christ who can do the will of God. He did it alone at the cross.
The reason we are afraid to commit to the Lord's will is because of the selfish desires that are taking over God's throne in our hearts. No one can serve two masters at once. We can't serve both God and our selfish desires.
What can we do then? By ourselves we are nothing. It's not about our ability because even the most able, most skilled and most talented servants still fail to serve God and turned to serving their own selfish desires— and with great care!
It is about our availability to the greatest service which is also the greatest honor and privilege the world has ever known-- serving the Lord. Therefore we should get rid of the selfish desires in our hearts because those who cleanse themselves from the common purposes will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. [2 Tim. 2:21]
Because of this, we have this hope that we can do all things through Christ who is our strength. [Phil. 4:13] No matter how many discouragements, difficulties and mistakes we encounter we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. [Rom. 8:28]
We should be contented with having Christ as our everything, our portion and our great reward, but we should not be contented in seeing God's beloved city in ruins. The Lord said, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” [Hag. 1:4]
As the song goes: Greater things are yet to come. Greater things are still to be done in this city.
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Now hear these words, ‘Let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built.’ [Zech. 8:9a]
Our Lord Jesus Christ is not in need of hands to work; He is in need of hearts to live in so that the will of God may be done by Him through His Spirit in our hearts and in our lives.
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