Qualified
Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance. Colossians 1:11-12
Have you ever felt unqualified? Maybe you were in a position with people that had a different skill set or different knowledge than you? I know I have. All through my life I have found myself in situations with people I thought were way more qualified than I was. However, God seemed to put me in those areas because I was willing to take a step of faith and obedience. It’s like He speaks to my heart in a certain area and usually I am eager to follow the direction. Although there have been time that I dragged my feet because something may have looked like it wouldn’t work in the natural. However, my Heavenly Father is so patient with me and He always seems to get me there at just the right time. Though sometime I feel I have no business being there.
That hasn’t always been the case though. For years I tried to drag God down a road that I thought was best. Walking down a dark path that I thought would end in happiness and fulfillment. Oh, He was always faithful to bail me out of the ditches I had gotten myself into because of bad decisions, but I just didn’t get it. I didn’t get that God had a good plan for my life and if I would just surrender my life to His direction, He would take me places I never would have dreamed of before. Then one day I did. One day I invited Jesus into my life to be Lord, not my savior only. That made all the difference. In surrendering to Him as Lord of my life, I no longer allowed my will to be my direction. I began to follow His direction and plan and even though it didn’t always look like what I wanted, the end results turned out for the best. I would have never gotten to where I am today if I had continued down the same short-sighted road I was on.
Today’s scripture talks about God qualifying us to have a part in His Kingdom work, not only in this world but also in heaven someday. Think about it, you are a child of God, doesn’t it make sense that He would trust His children to do His business with Him? Here’s the thing: When God asks me to go someplace, talk to someone or give something, it really has nothing to do with me other than I get to have a part in what He is doing. What it really has to do with is when I go there, God goes there. He reaches into the situation because I am there as His representative. Not because I am so smart and qualified, it’s because I am His child and we are working together. It’s actually fun! When I listen to Him, I bless others, I can be an answer to someone’s prayer and I get filled up with the joy and energy of the LORD. It’s a pretty great deal!
I don’t have a part to do in the kingdom of Heaven because I’m qualified, God qualified me and then trains me for the part because I work with my Father in the family business. I am strengthened and empowered with His glorious might and joyfully patient and longsuffering. I am thankful to my Father because He has qualified me to have a part in the inheritance/work of the kingdom.
Today I want to encourage you to surrender all to Him. Ask Jesus to be your LORD not only your Savior and tell Him you want to do your part in the family business. Submit each day to your heavenly Father and ask Him where He wants to go today to answer someone prayer. When you listen and follow the direction He give, you are doing His business. Not because you are qualified but because He qualified you when He rescued you. If you’re not sure how to hear His direction, ask Him. Ask Him to make His voice plain and clear. Ask Him to help you not to miss it. When you do miss it, quickly ask Him to help you get back up again. Learn to hear His direction in the little things so that when big decisions come along, you already know what He sounds like and you will be eager to follow His instruction. Lastly, don’t dismiss and be aware of the thoughts and ideas that come when you are talking to Him especially when it comes to blessing others. When you dismiss or ignore Him, His voice on the inside of you will become quiet and harder to hear. As you are eager to act, it will become loud and clear.
Today’s scripture reading: Colossians 1:9-14
The Daily Dose 