Day 210 – What God Can Do

What God Can Do

In 1872, while sitting on a park bench in Dublin, Ireland, two men were discussing the challenges that lay before them in evangelizing Ireland and the United Kingdom. The British revivalist, Henry Varley, leaned over to his young, American colleague and said: “It remains to be seen what God will do with a man who gives himself up wholly unto Him.” Those words burned into the heart of the young Dwight L. Moody as he responded: “With God’s help, I aim to be that man.” D.L. Moody went on to become one of the greatest evangelists of the nineteenth century.

Moody was convinced that the key lay in the power of God and not in his eloquence of speech. He said: “I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers…than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me.” It is in what God can do, not what man can do. The abilities of man, if not totally surrendered to God, can easily get in the way. Our strong points can become our weaknesses in the Lord’s work. Moody realized this when he said: “If this world is going to be reached, I am convinced that it must be done by men and women of average talent.” God uses the weak to shame the strong and those who are of no reputation to confound the wise. (I Cor. 1.27-28)

If you have ever doubted what God could do through you, just reflect on those He has already used greatly. Look at David, a shepherd boy who was overlooked by his father and despised by his brothers, or Rahab, the prostitute, or Moses, who stammered and had anger issues. What about Paul the persecutor of the Church, or Peter, who denied the Lord three times. The Bible is full of stories of weak men and women doing great things through the power of the Almighty God. Then there is Smith Wigglesworth, an uneducated plumber, who became known as the Father of the Faith Movement. His ministry was noted for the thousands of confirmed healings and miracles. The only book he ever read was the Bible and yet God worked mightily through this man who was wholly dedicated to Him. So many others, such as: Billy Graham, Reinhard Bonnke, Charles Finney, T.L. Osborn, David Yonggi Cho and Derek Prince. All began with humble beginnings, but, oh what God did through their lives.

So the question is: What can God do through you? How big is your God? Don’t look at your history, your talents, your family background, your finances or your failures. Look at the bigness of your God. The only requirement is in your dedication not your ability. Let your imagination go wild. Are you thinking BIG? Now, what percentage of this dream do you want to come true? 50%, 20%, 10%, or 100%? 10% is probably what you can expect if you go faithfully to church every week, pay your tithes, read your Bible daily and serve from time to time in a ministry of the church. Would you be content with 10%? Would God? What is being wholly given to the Lord?

I remember my frustration with a 50% commitment. 50% looks good when compared to 10%, but I was miserable. One day I had a vision of myself standing on the edge of a cliff. As I look over the edge, I couldn’t see the bottom. It was so deep. Then the Lord said to me: “Jump”. I knew what He wanted. He wanted me to completely trust Him with me future, my plans, my desires, my dreams and my friends. Once you jump, there is no going back. 100% means all. There is no hidden interests, or time off that are reserved just for “me”. All is for the Lord. All is to do His will.

Scriptures to meditate on:

I Cor. 1.27-28; II Cor. 12.9-10; Psalms 37; Rom. 12.1-2; Luke 11.36