"If I cannot do it well, then I will not do it at all." This is never to be the attitude of one of God's children. How well you do something is not a requirement of service. However, willingness to get involved is. Every Christian needs to open their heart to service and become involved.
The Apostle Paul was a very educated man. He was schooled by Rabban Gamaliel. Rabban is a word which means "our master."
Gamaliel was a master of the Talmud which was a book based upon the Law of Moses and was a discussion on Jewish laws and ethics. From the Talmud, the Sanhedrin ruled over the Jewish people and Gamaliel was the head of the Sanhedrin.
Thus Gamaliel was Paul's teacher and Paul was a person used by Gamaliel to implement the code of ethics; granting and encouraging the persecution of Christians.
Where Paul was a well educated man in ethics, based upon the Talmud, Paul was not so educated in other academic skills. Paul had deficits in public speaking and now had a greater deficit for all he had learned at the feet of Gamaliel was now all rubbish. The teachings of the Talmud were all wrong and only the truth established by Jesus Christ was right.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 (NKJV)
It freaked Paul out to walk away from the Sanhedrin to join those he was encouraged to persecute. Yet Paul was called into service and he came in fear and trembling.
There are several things we must teach all Christians. The first is when God places a calling on your heart you are to go. Second, God does not always call you to do those things you are good at. A third would be, God's timing is not always our timing.
Paul was stopped in the middle of a journey when Christ appeared as a blinding light to Him. It was there Paul was called to stop persecuting Christians and was stricken with blindness.
Immediately Paul was instructed to continue on to Damascus and allow those leading him to meet a Christian man named Ananias; for Paul was blinded by his encounter with Jesus and had to be led.
Paul was called immediately upon his conversion to follow the Lord and Ananias baptized Paul while in Damascus. When baptized, Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit; for God wanted to use Paul immediately for service.
Paul confronted the Jews at Damascus and preached to them Christ. These Jews, in Damascus, sought to kill Paul and he had to be snuck out of the city for his own safety.
Paul did not know much about Christianity; yet, after spending time with Jesus' disciples in Jerusalem, Paul was able to see how the Old Testament spoke of Christ Jesus throughout.
Though God was able to use a bit of Paul's understanding of the Old Testament, Paul had to be taught to see things completely different. Many Christians have thought what they had learned before they met Christ would be valuable inside the church; however, it is often found to be useless, for God wants to show them a new way of thinking.
Christians must know that because a person is good at something, it does not mean that God wants them to do it. Many Christians know they should serve the Lord and because they were English majors they decide to write; or because they are good communicators they should be a pastor. Yet God will often call a person into an area they know nothing about, so they can learn to walk in the power of Christ and not rely on their own strength.
Jesus took uneducated, unsophisticated fishermen and turned them into the fist leaders of the Christian Church. Yes, they had their training period, but Jesus called them and led them; teaching them to be the leaders they became. It is important to note that Jesus did not go find men which already had leadership abilities.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.1 Corinthians 2:4-8 (NKJV)
It was the power of God which allowed Paul to approach the church and become a leader in it. It was not his background, his eloquence, or his ability; Paul became a leader in the power of the Lord.
God calls ordinary people like you and I to be Christians Workers. God does not call according to our abilities, but according to His will. He also calls people according to His timing.
Though it has not happened often, I have met those who, like Paul, were called from day one to become a leader in the church. They gave their heart to God, were baptized, and their heart was ready to begin service to the Lord. However, in the majority of people who come to the Lord, I have seen God sit people down to learn some lessons before they are ready to serve.
Moses felt a calling from the Lord and had been schooled in the greatest schools and by the brightest professors in Egypt. Raised in Pharaoh own home, Moses knew much. Moses was a very educated and able Egyptian leader. Inside Moses knew he was to become a leader of the Jews and deliver the people from bondage.
Yet, God had other plans. Through circumstances, Moses ended up leading sheep through the wilderness for forty years. Having to flee Egypt and leave the Israelite people, Moses was to endure forty years of training, God's way.
It was only in God's timing Moses was raised up to become the leader God wanted, able to lead God's people. All of his Egyptian education had to be unlearned. Moses had to learn new ways filled with compassion and patients. For Moses it took forty years until he was able to be the Christian Worker God wanted.
Service to the Lord is never instant. A servant must be submitted, loyal, faithful, and ready when called. This applies to every person called to be a child of God. We all have a purpose, a calling, and are needed in service to Him.
Some feel they are called to do great works and yet God would first have them be faithful to smaller works.
Others feel they are unable to serve God and are unworthy of service; yet, God will call even the most undeserving person to become involved, learned, and experience the His power God to transform their life.
Our churches are needy for people to step up and greet people, help people, and take greater rolls of service. Churches need people who are willing and have open hearts to God. Where there is often many in the seats, there are not many who serve.
Paul was a Christian Worker; even so let us become servants of God. Become involved today.
