God Equips the Called

I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:6)

We have before us a word of eternal encouragement from this section of sacred Scripture, for just as God gave instructions to Moses about the building of the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and all of the priestly garments, He also gives us one of His most important biblical principles:

God Does Not Call the Equipped . . . He Equips the Called

As a pastor, I often have the opportunity to speak with people who are sensing that God is calling them to move into some particular area of service. And all too often I hear them lament that they are not equipped for the job. This simply cannot be true! God is in the business of calling people into His service who have no previous experience in that particular area. Moses was never a prophet to lead God’s people out of bondage until God called him and equipped him for the job. Esther was never a queen to save God’s people from annihilation until God called her and equipped her for the job. The fisherman Peter was never an apostle to preach the Gospel to the people of Israel until God called him and equipped him for the job.

You see the point don’t you? God does not look around until He finds someone who is fully prepared and equipped to serve Him. Rather, He places His call into the hearts of individuals and then equips them for that particular call. I remember when Kim and I were sensing God’s call into the pastorate, which neither of us would have dreamed of in a million years; we wondered how we would ever be able to answer that call. Then a wise mentor pointed us to this portion of Scripture, making it clear that if God truly was calling, He would see to it that we would have everything we needed to answer that call.

Have you been sensing God’s calling in any particular area of life? Have you been hesitant to answer that call for fear that you are ill-equipped for the job? Perhaps you can identify many others whom you believe would be better suited for that service? Those thoughts are just Satan’s means to keep you from becoming the man or woman whom God is calling you to be.

Remember, Christian, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Keep your eyes on Jesus and follow Him wherever He is leading. You can be confident that God will give you the skill you need to do what He has called you to do. And in that way, He will get the glory if you surrender your life to Him . . . and you will experience the joy!This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!