“Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.” (Nehemiah 2:9, ESV)
One of my favorite quotes is: “God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” It is a reminder that God will equip us and give us what we need to do what he would have us do.
But that does not mean just to show up. If you serve the Lord with a gift or talent, it needs to be nurtured. There is no excuse for being unprepared to serve.
Throughout my years as a pastor, I have seen different attitudes among volunteers. There are some volunteers who are happy just to show up. They offer the time but don’t pursue excellence in their task.
I have seen other volunteers strive to be all they can be. They will read books. They will take lessons. They will attend seminars. They seek to grow, to learn, and build their experience. They strive to be the best they can be in their area of service.
When Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem, he doesn’t just show up. He is equipped with the king’s letters. He also an army with him. In short, he was prepared. He was ready for whatever was going to come his way. He brought with him everything he could bring with him to complete the task.
The walls of Jerusalem would not be rebuilt without bringing resources to play. Nehemiah didn’t just hope those resources would show up. He comes prepared and equipped to complete the task.
When you serve, prepare all you can prepare. Learn all you can learn. And trust that God will fill the gap where you fall short.
Reflection
- How are you nurturing your talents and abilities to serve the Lord?
- Where do you need to grow? What skills do you need to acquire? How can you better excel in your serving.
Prayer
Lord, I thank you that you empower me for service. You have made available tools and resources that my ancestors could not have even dreamed. But too often I am nonchalant in serving you. I settle for something less than excellence. Forgive me for my lack of attentiveness and preparation. Give me a desire to strive to be all I can be for your kingdom. Amen.
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