Spiritual capacity has nothing to do with intellect or education; it is measured by the promises of God. Oswald Chambers.
This truth must be embedded in our thinking else we will never do anything by the power of the Holy Spirit but rather be limited by our own abilities. Paul says to the Corinthians, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.” (2Cor6:12) God regularly asks us to do things that are beyond our own abilities and at the time we can't see how we will be able to do it. We don't know how to do what God has asked, we don't know how long it might take, we don't know who God might be calling to co-labor with us. We only have the call of God and a first step we must take. When we make the decision to take the first step, the Lord empowers us to take it and then every step thereafter. At the start we rarely see the whole journey ahead. The Lord said to Joseph (note God spoke to the head of the household, not the falsely deified Mary) “saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:20-21
Joseph obeyed not knowing where he was going other than go back to Israel. Modern disciples want all the information before we make a decision. We want to know in advance all the resources required, who else will help us, and then we want to consult our busy calendars to make sure we don't have other things we'd rather do. I'm sure Joseph had plans at the time of the Lord's calling to return to Egypt. Most people are not sitting around doing nothing when God calls. Even if we are not in full time employment, we have plans and commitments. If we allow our calendars to dictate our obedience, we won't do much for God. The Lord often goes out of His way to make following Him inconvenient and uncomfortable and costly. When has God asked any hero of the faith to do something that was easy and convenient? Built into every calling are tests of our will and devotion. Will we do the hard thing? the embarrassing thing? the lonely thing? the expensive thing? the seemingly impossible thing? If we say, “yes" and go, then we are in a position to have God do great things through us. May we walk in joyful obedience in all that the Lord calls us to do today.
This truth must be embedded in our thinking else we will never do anything by the power of the Holy Spirit but rather be limited by our own abilities. Paul says to the Corinthians, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.” (2Cor6:12) God regularly asks us to do things that are beyond our own abilities and at the time we can't see how we will be able to do it. We don't know how to do what God has asked, we don't know how long it might take, we don't know who God might be calling to co-labor with us. We only have the call of God and a first step we must take. When we make the decision to take the first step, the Lord empowers us to take it and then every step thereafter. At the start we rarely see the whole journey ahead. The Lord said to Joseph (note God spoke to the head of the household, not the falsely deified Mary) “saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:20-21
Joseph obeyed not knowing where he was going other than go back to Israel. Modern disciples want all the information before we make a decision. We want to know in advance all the resources required, who else will help us, and then we want to consult our busy calendars to make sure we don't have other things we'd rather do. I'm sure Joseph had plans at the time of the Lord's calling to return to Egypt. Most people are not sitting around doing nothing when God calls. Even if we are not in full time employment, we have plans and commitments. If we allow our calendars to dictate our obedience, we won't do much for God. The Lord often goes out of His way to make following Him inconvenient and uncomfortable and costly. When has God asked any hero of the faith to do something that was easy and convenient? Built into every calling are tests of our will and devotion. Will we do the hard thing? the embarrassing thing? the lonely thing? the expensive thing? the seemingly impossible thing? If we say, “yes" and go, then we are in a position to have God do great things through us. May we walk in joyful obedience in all that the Lord calls us to do today.