In His Hands

Last Sunday evening my daughter called me with an important SOS--my youngest son was desperately trying to get in touch with me. What was the emergency? He had a "hot" date of swing dancing with his girlfriend that night that required him to wear a tie and he couldn't remember how to tie it.

I had just arrived at the church for a meeting, so I ducked into my office, called him in his dorm room and tried walking him through the steps of tying a tie. I'm not sure if it was the time crunch we were both feeling to get him out the door and to his date, or whether it was because I didn't actually have a tie in my hands as I was trying to instruct him over the phone, but we weren't doing so well. I was beginning to feel the failure as I quickly surveyed my office. I was looking for anything I could use to simulate a tie so I could be certain that all my directions to my son over the phone made sense.

Then I spied it! There on a cart in my office was a computer cord. I grabbed it and placed it around my neck like a tie. It was almost the right length too! So with my cell phone balanced between my shoulder and ear I began to tie the computer cord as I would the finest silk tie. Now I was certain the directions I was giving my son made sense. Soon the computer cord was tied around my neck and my son in his dorm room assured me that now his tie was tied correctly around his neck and he could be on his way to dance with his girlfriend.

This incident reminded me of God's ability to use us, by the power of His grace, to do some powerful things for His kingdom. Notice some verses from 2 Corinthians 4. "Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart...For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord...But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

You see, when we're in God's hands, He can take the most ordinary of people and do amazing things--not because we're amazing, but because of the power of His grace.

In His hands a donkey can be used to send a message to a wayward man.

In His hands a little boy like Sameul can be used to guide a nation.

In His hands a young woman like Esther can intervene to save peoples lives.

In His hands a murderer like Moses can become a great leader.

In His hands a man filled with fear like Gideon can deliver his people from oppression.

In His hands a traitor like Peter can lead thousands to Christ in a single day.

Do you ever feel somewhat ordinary and of not much use or value? That's OK, because it's not about who you are, but about who God is! Imagine what God can do through you by the power of His grace when you're in His hands!