LeaderLines -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

How to be Used for God's Glory
by Tom Goodman
September 16, 2011

Excuses, excuses.

When God calls us to do something, we've all used the same excuses Moses used. At the burning bush of Exodus 3, God called him to lead his people out of Egyptian slavery. Moses argued back, "Who me? I don't have what it takes! You've got the wrong person. Send someone else."

In a blog post earlier this week, Jared Wilson said that such excuses don't exempt us from God's call but rather qualify us for God's call. Once we match God's answers to each of Moses' excuses we can see this.

Wilson said that God's reply to the excuses fall out like this:

Who am I to go for you?: Never mind who you are. That's irrelevant.
Exodus 3:11-12
Who are you for me to go for you?: I am GOD.
Exodus 3:13-15
What if they don't believe me?: It's not your accomplishments you're testifying to, but mine.
Here, have some miracles.
Exodus 4:1-9
Me no talk good.: I use junk and jackasses all the time.
Exodus 4:10-11
Send somebody else!: I'll send somebody with you, not instead of you.
Exodus 4:13-16

God's answers do much more than just cancel Moses' pleas. They show how Moses was actually perfectly suited for God's call.

And so are you. And so are all the rest of us in leadership at Hillcrest. Based on this exchange between Moses and God, then, Wilson suggests five qualifications for responding to God's call:

First, be a nobody.

Secondly, don't worry about your accomplishments or ability to persuade: What God has done -- namely, in the historical good news of Jesus Christ -- is a powerful persuasion all its own, and the Spirit will control who it stirs.

Thirdly, know God.

Fourthly, be unimpressive on your own.

Fifth, don't go it alone.

Good advice for those of us who know God has called us -- or is calling us -- for some task.

--Tom

LeaderLines is a weekly "e-briefing" providing valuable information and inspiration to those who serve at Hillcrest Baptist Church.

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How to be Used for God's Glory by Tom Goodman September 16, 2011 Excuses, excuses. When God calls us to do something, we've all used the same excuses Moses used. At the burning bush of Exodus 3, God called him to lead his people out of Egyptian slavery. Moses argued back, "Who me? I don't have what it takes! You've got the wrong person. Send someone else." In a blog post earlier this week, Jared Wilson said that such excuses don't exempt us from God's call but rather qualify us for God's call. Once we match God's answers to each of Moses' excuses we can see this. Wilson said that God's reply to the excuses fall out like this: Who am I to go for you? Never mind who you are. That's irrelevant. Exodus 3:11-12 Who are you for me to go for you? I am GOD. Exodus 3:13-15 What if they don't believe me? It's not your accomplishments you're testifying to, but mine. Here, have some miracles. Exodus 4:1-9 Me no talk good. I use junk and jackasses all the time. Exodus 4:10-11 Send somebody else! I'll send somebody with you, not instead of you. Exodus 4:13-16 God's answers do much more than just cancel Moses' pleas. They show how Moses was actually perfectly suited for God's call. And so are you. And so are all the rest of us in leadership at Hillcrest. Based on this exchange between Moses and God, then, Wilson suggests five qualifications for responding to God's call: First, be a nobody. Secondly, don't worry about your accomplishments or ability to persuade: What God has done -- namely, in the historical good news of Jesus Christ -- is a powerful persuasion all its own, and the Spirit will control who it stirs. Thirdly, know God. Fourthly, be unimpressive on your own. Fifth, don't go it alone. Good advice for those of us who know God has called us -- or is calling us -- for some task. --Tom LeaderLines is a weekly "e-briefing" providing valuable information and inspiration to those who serve at Hillcrest Baptist Church. Do you know friends who would appreciate LeaderLines? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to LeaderLines? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.