Can I Get an Amen?

Sometimes other, more experienced people say things far better than we could say them ourselves. And so, I present you today's miracle: this Desiring God blog post, which PERFECTLY pertains to our journey today.

(If you have not been paying attention, we have our oral doctrinal exam with ABWE today at 3 pm PST at Eastgate Bible Fellowship.)

God Provides Direction, Resources, and Ability By Jon Bloom

In Exodus chapters 26-30, God gave Moses very detailed instructions about how to make the tabernacle, its furnishings, the priests’ garments, and all the instruments used in worship. And then in chapter 31, God tells Moses (much to Moses’ great relief, I imagine),

See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:2-6)

Then in Exodus 35 God commands anyone “of a generous heart” (v. 5) to contribute to the needs of constructing all these things. And the people were so stirred that they had to be “restrained” from continuing to give (Exodus 36:6).

Here’s the encouragement: when God calls us to do something, he provides all the necessary direction, ability, and resources to accomplish it.

Let me just repeat that: when God calls us to do something, he provides all the necessary direction, ability, and resources to accomplish it.

Can I get an Amen?

Also, this morning I asked God to give me a verse to dwell on today. Yesterday we read some verses from the "Promises from the Bible" resource in the back of one of my Bibles, and God gave us 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Does it get any simpler than that? "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." The NIV says, "the one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." Can you hear the exclamation point? I can.

This morning, God was slightly more subtle. The verse he laid on my heart for today is Psalm 147:10-11:

His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

God doesn't delight in sending us because we are strong and capable of winning over our mission field. He doesn't take pleasure in our simple ability to go. He takes pleasure in our fearing him and our hoping in his steadfast love. Believing that He will provide "all the necessary direction, ability, and resources to accomplish [his will]" like Jon's post said, and believing He is faithful and He will surely do it, and then boldly going forward is how we can fear God and hope in His steadfast love.