They blew their trumpets and broke the jars. (Judg. 7:19)
When I first became a Christian, I did not feel I was good enough to be used by God. Why would God want to use a person who was so imperfect, one who was such a bad sinner? Besides, I always felt as though I was not smart enough or coordinated enough to excel at anything. I felt that I was a big loser.
When opportunities came to me to do something “good,” I always made excuses as to why I could not do it. One day my pastor came to me and said, “Jim, you need to break the jar that conceals your light.”
“What do you mean, Pastor Armes?”
“You need to let your light shine before men; let your good works be such that, when men look upon you, they will know that you have been with Jesus.”
To emphasize his point his voice got a little bit louder, “Jim, you need to throw aside the bushel that is hiding your candle and allow yourself to shine for God. God wants to use you. You may feel weak, insignificant and not good enough, but if you will surrender yourself to God, He will use you. However, you have to be willing to break the jar that is holding you back.”
People hide their lights for a variety of reasons, but God uses those who make themselves available.
Make yourself available to God so he can use you.
Jim “Umfundisi” Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books including Unholiness: Overcoming the Forces That Attack Your Soul (WPH).
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
