The desire you have to serve the Lord is not always proportional to how much He will use you for His glory.
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:11)
I see an opportunity for pride in that verse, and I believe it adds credence to the opening statement in this letter to you today. A man who writes a book in the spirit of seeing the Lord Jesus Christ lifted up will generally do all he can to find a publisher to print many copies of it, and if that book is not widely accepted, he will become in some form despondent, if tens of thousands of copies are sold, then another book may be in order, yet pride may easily find a foothold in his life.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1st Cor. 3:6)
One who is born-again on a Tuesday is not sent to the mission field on Wednesday, the desire is there, but Spiritual discernment has yet to grow fruit in their heart.
When the Lord calls, we answer, but wisdom asks us to sit at the gate for a while before we set out. How long is up to our King, He sends none out unprepared, every tool is given to us to accomplish the task before we embark on that particular part of the path towards that straight gate.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Prov. 3:6)
Two things are required of those whose desire it is to see their desires met in the service of the Almighty, you must be willing, and you must apply yourself, you must be an empty vessel that wants to be filled.
“To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (1st Cor. 9:22)
To speak to your fellow humans, you must be a student of human nature, who we are at our core, why do we think, speak and act the way we do. Here an overall generalization is sufficient to the beginning of our task, for this truth is for all who have ever been born.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)
You have sinned, so you have something in common with every single person on this planet.
The only barrier that I can honestly see at this time is language. The heart that desires to serve Christ must be honed with the skills to do so, and it is why, in my own personal opinion, that one who has that desire does not enter a two year “crash course” in a seminary on how to be profitable to the Almighty, but to wear grooves into the floor of their house with much time on their knees.
Every young man who enters these schools of Biblical training daydreams of huge flocks following him, of large congregations hanging on his every word, most though will find themselves in a building that will never require an addition to it, most will stare out at the same faces year after year. That form of despair because of unmet expectations they occasionally feel will be labeled “contentment” in their heart.
Others may indeed stand before large assemblies, but that large house, that gold watch, the new foyer or parking lot addition may cause the fire that was burning in their heart to smolder into embers, for pride may seep into their hearts.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Phil. 4:6)
Where you want to go, how you want to serve the Living God is not up to you, we follow Him, we do not make suggestions, the only plan we have is to consistently say “Thy will be done.” We study, we pray, we seek His face, and when He calls, we follow where He leads.
To be the servant of all is to first be the servant of the Living God, to have a burning desire to see Him exalted, to see the Lord Jesus Christ lifted up in our lives.
Make your plans, lay them before Him, but if He changes those plans, change yours to fit His.
