Unworthy but Useful

If we had a just appreciation of the importance and greatness of our work, and could see ourselves as we are at this time, we should be filled with wonder that God could use us, unworthy as we are, in the work of bringing souls into the truth. There are many things that we ought to be able to understand, that we do not comprehend because we are so far behind our privileges.

Christ said to His disciples, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now” (John 16:12). This is our condition. Would they not have been able to understand what He had to say to them, if they had been doers of His word—if they had improved point after point of the truth which He had presented to them? But although they could not then understand, He told them that He would send the Comforter, who would lead them into all truth. We should be in a position where we can comprehend the teaching, leading, and working of the Spirit of Christ. We must not measure God or His truth by our finite understanding, or by our preconceived opinions.

There are many who do not realize where they are standing; for they are spiritually blinded. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). I trust that none of us will be found to be reprobates. Is Christ abiding in your hearts by faith? Is His Spirit in you? If it is, there will be such a yearning in your soul for the salvation of those for whom Christ has died, that self will sink into insignificance, and Christ alone will be exalted….

Those who profess to be united to Christ should be laborers together with God. The people of God are to warn the world, and to prepare a people to stand in the day of wrath when the Son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven. The members of the church of Christ should gather up the divine rays of light from Jesus, and reflect them to others, leaving a bright track heavenward in the world.—The Review and Herald, October 8, 1889.
Ye Shall Receive Power p. 170
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Fran whose cancer has returned. Rose
—-I asking for prayers for my cousin Martha who is losing her battle with lung disease I’m asking for GOD to heal her and for all my family as we battle this. Henry
—-Please pray for my friend Harmony. She’s a single mom who jsut had her first baby. She made the choice to have her baby and keep it, even though it seemed like a big mistake. She feel she will be judged at church and needs a lot of support and encouragement. Jennifer
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Eileen “rescued” a plant arrangement that someone had thrown away into the dumpster. It was about a foot tall, flower pot and plant included, and consisted of a small snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue is the common name), a cane plant, and a plant we were not sure of, but it looked like a miniature cross between a palmetto and a palm tree. Whether the person who got rid of it was just tired of it, didn’t like the arrangement, or just didn’t know how to care for it, I don’t know, but it looked a little bedraggled, so it was probably for the latter reason.
With some tender, loving care from Eileen, that arrangement grew so big that it nearly touched the ceiling. It had two lovely palmlike trees (I still don’t know what their name is) that have made branches off from the main trunk so it’s nice and full. Only the cane plant did not survive. The snake plant grew very large and spread throughout the three feet in diameter pot that she had put it in. Every summer, Ron and Ronnie Jay dragged it out to our deck where it got bigger and looked healthier with each passing year. Even so, if the person who threw out that plant arrangement could see it, they would be very surprised that it had grown so tall and lasted so long.
How many times we look upon others as worthless. How often we see someone that we feel is not worth saving, but “the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7 When our Dear Saviour looks upon us, He sees what we can become if we allow Him into our heart. He pities our sinful condition and offers us His help. Indeed, His Great Heart of Love breaks when we are far from Him.
A good example of this principle is the life of Doug Batchelor, director of Amazing Facts. We were listening to his testimony yesterday, not only about his conversion experience, but also how God led in his life to get him where he is today. Surely he was rescued as was Eileen’s plant arrangement. Unlike Eileen’s rescued plant arrangement that had no choice in the matter, however, Doug did have a choice. Praise God! He made the right choices and God is using him to spread the Gospel far and wide.
We also are given this same choice for “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16.17 We can accept His free gift or we can reject it. We can allow Him to change our heart and help us to obey, or we can shut our heart’s door to His knocking and turn away. We can follow His leading as He opens the door, or we can “do our own thing” and soon find ourselves falling away from the experience we once had.
Our Loving Saviour pleads, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in unto him and sup with him and he with Me.” Rev 3:20 What wonderful fellowship we can have with our Creator and Redeemer, but we must open the door. May we choose this day whom we will serve and may it be the Lord. (Josh 24:15) May we allow Him to lead us into all righteousness. May we keep our eyes focused on our Loving Rescuer and rejoice in His salvation is my prayer.
Rose