“In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.” – Romans 15:17 (esv)

I see all that Jesus has done and what He continues to do for me and I know that I can never repay Him. I look at some of the old saints and heroes of the Bible and wonder if I could ever measure up to any of them. These things are so much larger than me. What could little me do for such a great big God?

The Catholic Saint Therese of Lisieux once said, “Holiness consists simply in doing God’s will, and being just what God wants us to be.” I like hearing that because it gives me perspective that God doesn’t want you and I and even the old saints to be all the same. Jesus isn’t looking for all of us to be Peter. Sometimes He needs a Paul, a James, or a John. He is looking for each of us to be just what He created us to be: ourselves.

In short, you need to work what you’ve got. Just think about David in the Bible. He didn’t start out as this big warrior or king. He was slowly shepherd boy with a sling, but that’s exactly what God needed him to be. However, when he eventually did become king, David didn’t issue slings to all of his army even though that’s what he used to slay Goliath. That’s what worked for David at that point in time. God used David just as he was.

God will use you and I just as we are. Nothing in your life, good or bad, is for nothing. Give it all to Jesus Christ and see what happens next. You don’t need to try and make some grand gesture of holiness to please God. You may be surprised at what becomes of little you and your seemingly simple life as long as you give yourself up to Him as a tool for the Master to use.

That being said, you can try to give your time, your money, and even your skills, but unless you first give your heart to Jesus all you do will fail. Anything Jesus did was with great love. And just as the Master does, we must do the same. I am not some rich and powerful politician or business man who can do huge things for thousands of people. I’m just me, but I do have a heart for Jesus. I can’t do great things, but I can do little things with great love. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians, I can preach and give all I have, but without love I can do nothing.

So that’s how God can use you. Don’t be so focused on doing grand gestures for the poor or helpless. We’re all poor and helpless if our own way. What we need is to show love and to be shown love. Once your heart is in the hands of Jesus Christ, the rest of your own personal talents and skills will be used by Him in ways you would never expect. You are you. Nobody else ever has been you. So be the best you that you can be, because that’s exactly what God wants and needs. Your natural, plus God’s super, combines to make something supernatural and it all starts with your heart.

God’s blessings to you.

DH