A Clean Garage
06/09/09 12:35
A clean garage means
the tools are in their place. Yes! Years ago I spent
a lot of time hanging tools and placing shelves in
just the right place. I needed to be able to know
where each tool was when I needed it. And after many
hours of painstaking planning and engineering, I
completed the workman’s garage. I was so proud
of myself. I was ready to take on any job; yes
sir-ree, no job was too big! I was ready because I
knew where my tools were!
But, soon after a number of small jobs, my garage was a mess and I couldn’t find a tool to save my life. Jobs take longer when you have to take time to look for the right tool. I can get very exasperated when I can’t find what I need for the job. I need to have a place for every tool and every tool in its place –or else I’m lost!
The advantages of having a clean garage are too numerous to list here but the number one thing is that of knowing that my tools are where they are suppose to be and that they are ready to be put to work.
Can you see where I am going here? We, as the body of Christ, are all tools in the Lord’s hand. Paul tells us that we are all the Body of Christ. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body…Now the body is not made up of one part but of many…But in fact God arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” 1Cor.12:12-18 Do you see the analogy?
God arranged the parts of the Body just as He wanted them to be just like I cleaned the garage and put the tools where I needed them to be. I know the analogy is a little rough, but you get the picture, don’t you? You see, God has each of us right where He wants us and we should be all the more careful to be where He has placed us. He has some of us in our prayer closets, some of us on the mission field and some of us evangelizing on the street corner.
We all should be ready for God to use us wherever He sees fit. When the Church is functioning, as she should be, God is able to get things done as He desires. But what happens when some of His “tools” aren’t where they’re supposed to be? What if some of His “tools” are out in the world when they are suppose to be in the Kingdom? How many opportunities are missed because God’s house is messier than my garage? I think God could get more things done in the world if He didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning His house!
Each of us is a part of His house; of His Body, and each of us is where He wants us to be. Then we grow and God places us here and He places us there. We meet this need and we take care of that responsibility, just as He directs us. And as we grow, we take on bigger jobs and more responsibilities. We serve as He leads. Our biggest responsibility is to make sure that our “house” is clean for when our Lord calls us to service.
Does He need you to pray? Maybe He needs for you to speak to your neighbor. Are you shining a good clear light? Is your salt nice and savory? It behooves every one us, no matter where God has us in the body, to be able to function in the liberty that an intimate walk with His Spirit offers. So let us throw off everything that hinders and the sine that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross –God’s Tool, for the salvation of all mankind!
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
But, soon after a number of small jobs, my garage was a mess and I couldn’t find a tool to save my life. Jobs take longer when you have to take time to look for the right tool. I can get very exasperated when I can’t find what I need for the job. I need to have a place for every tool and every tool in its place –or else I’m lost!
The advantages of having a clean garage are too numerous to list here but the number one thing is that of knowing that my tools are where they are suppose to be and that they are ready to be put to work.
Can you see where I am going here? We, as the body of Christ, are all tools in the Lord’s hand. Paul tells us that we are all the Body of Christ. “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body…Now the body is not made up of one part but of many…But in fact God arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.” 1Cor.12:12-18 Do you see the analogy?
God arranged the parts of the Body just as He wanted them to be just like I cleaned the garage and put the tools where I needed them to be. I know the analogy is a little rough, but you get the picture, don’t you? You see, God has each of us right where He wants us and we should be all the more careful to be where He has placed us. He has some of us in our prayer closets, some of us on the mission field and some of us evangelizing on the street corner.
We all should be ready for God to use us wherever He sees fit. When the Church is functioning, as she should be, God is able to get things done as He desires. But what happens when some of His “tools” aren’t where they’re supposed to be? What if some of His “tools” are out in the world when they are suppose to be in the Kingdom? How many opportunities are missed because God’s house is messier than my garage? I think God could get more things done in the world if He didn’t have to spend so much time cleaning His house!
Each of us is a part of His house; of His Body, and each of us is where He wants us to be. Then we grow and God places us here and He places us there. We meet this need and we take care of that responsibility, just as He directs us. And as we grow, we take on bigger jobs and more responsibilities. We serve as He leads. Our biggest responsibility is to make sure that our “house” is clean for when our Lord calls us to service.
Does He need you to pray? Maybe He needs for you to speak to your neighbor. Are you shining a good clear light? Is your salt nice and savory? It behooves every one us, no matter where God has us in the body, to be able to function in the liberty that an intimate walk with His Spirit offers. So let us throw off everything that hinders and the sine that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross –God’s Tool, for the salvation of all mankind!
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
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