“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. Luke 5:24-25
When we hear God speak to us with clear direction, we can, at times, doubt our own ability, leading us to respond more like Moses, than Samuel. We want to say, ‘speak, for you servant hears’ but fear creeps in and shakes our confidence, so instead we say, ‘I can’t do it, Lord, please pick someone else.’
When Moses thought of his own physical ability in connection with God’s task, he became paralysed with doubt and fear (Exodus 3 & 4). In that first conversation, no matter what God said, Moses could not see beyond his own ability. Maybe you can relate to this feeling of inadequacy for a task that the Lord has placed before you. I know I have. Fear and doubt affect us all and sometimes we hold on to that paralysis, unable to believe it can change, or even that we deserve it to change.
He will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:21
We are God’s vessels, to be used for His glory and honour. He knows the potential of every one of us, and He never asks us to do anything for which He will not supply the strength and power needed to accomplish it.
When Jesus spoke to the paralysed man in Luke 5, the man, who had legitimate reason to doubt, instead chose to believe the challenge to be possible, for he immediately rose up and walked home. In that moment he chose faith over fear.
The Lord sees the possible where we see the impossible; He sees strength where we see weakness. We look at the outer shell of flesh, while He looks at His own Spirit within us. So, when He says, ‘Rise up’, He is saying – ‘Rise up in my power and my strength, for my presence will go with you.’
Take God at His word and trust His providence. When He calls, answer; when He offers His hand, take hold of it with confidence.
Picture Credit: Photo by GEORGE DESIPRIS on www.pexels.com/photo/white-wooden-door-1475234
