“If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
2 Tim 2:21-22 NIV
2 Tim 2:21-22 NIV
One of my greatest fears before I joined the Music Ministry of my previous church was that I wasn’t as good enough as all the other people in the Praise and Worship Team. I knew I wasn’t good enough musically. I wasn’t that well versed in the Bible. The only Bible verse I knew by heart was John 3:16 and that was it! Sure I grew up in Sunday school, didn’t smoke, didn’t do anything that would cause my parents to disown me. But somehow, somewhere, there was this voice at the back of my head that reminded me of all the bad things I’ve done.
All my past sins came to haunt me in my mind, condemning me. “How could I even begin to think serving in the music ministry with all the sins I’ve done?! I am not that equipped nor am I worthy!” would be my response. My feeling of musical inadequacy plus my feeling of being too dirty to be used by God kept me from taking that step of faith to audition.
Paul reminds Timothy that if a man (or woman) cleanses himself from their sins, then God can and will use that person. God really isn’t interested about the sins we’ve done, the gods we’ve worshiped or the awards we have collected. God is interested in our present and future. He is interested in you and me and how willing we are to be used by Him, for His purpose.
Paul presents that God will equip us if we respond to the Lord’s call. The first step in responding to God’s call is to repent and ask forgiveness of our sins. It is after that God will begin to equip us for whatever purpose or call He has for you. You’d be surprised at how far you’ll go when you allow God to equip you. I know I was and still am.
Maybe right now you want to join a certain ministry at church, or to start a small group or to simply share your relationship with God to an officemate or friend and you feel just like how I felt: I’m not worthy to be used by God! I’m unequipped! There is surely someone better than me! My friend, if God calls you, then no one is better suited to whatever call He has placed in your heart to do than you. All we have to do is repent, be willing to be used by God and allow Him to equip us.
A good friend told me once that God never calls the equipped, He equips the called. That has proven to be true, take it from a formerly unequipped, unworthy bassist.
