“…Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Mark 2:17

God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He doesn’t call those who are able, but those who make themselves AVAILABLE! I have been reminded of these two thoughts over and over again as I’ve served. So often I catch myself thinking I’m not good enough to be used as a vessel to lead others to Christ, but that is a flat out LIE! I am capable, and so are you! The key is being available. If you offer up your time to serve wholeheartedly, God isn’t going to let you fail. He’s too good for that.

Lately, the idea of being available has pulled on my heartstrings. When you look at the lives of people in the Bible, they are always available to share the Good News we’ve also been blessed to hear. Take the apostle Paul for example:

“For although I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law – though I myself am not under the law – to win those under the law. To those outside the law, like one outside the law – not being outside God’s law, but under the law of Christ – to win those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.” -1 Corinthians 9:19-22

Paul became whatever he needed to be in order to share the Gospel. Take a moment to think about where God has placed you to serve. Whether it be behind a desk, on the sidelines coaching, on the court/field playing a sport, in a classroom learning, etc. you’re there for a specific purpose. Our entire life goal is to make much of God and less of us (John 3:30). When you’re interacting with a coworker, teammate, or classmate, eternity is on the line and you have the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you to make an impact on that person’s life that completely changes the game (Stick that in your juice box and suck it Satan! – sorry, inner monologue…). You may be the only Jesus that person sees, live like that is a big deal! Are you willing to make yourself available in whatever environment you’ve been placed in?

In Romans 8:29 we’re told to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Well guess what?! You guessed it – Jesus made himself available!

“While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Mark 2:15-17

Jesus was God in the flesh and the only righteous person to ever walk the earth. If we were capable of  walking in righteousness, He wouldn’t have needed to come to save us all (John 3:16). He dined with sinners because He knew they needed Him. That person you run into on a daily basis may need you to show them Jesus too. Even if they may not be the first person on your list to grab lunch or coffee with, make yourself available like Jesus and Paul did.

Living our day to day lives without making ourselves available to share Christ is like knowing the cure to cancer and keeping it to ourselves. We know the cure, its our time to share it! Be a nurse who relays the message from the doctor (Jesus) to the patient! You never know if the patient is pleading for you to pencil them in.

Your sister in Christ,

Meredith

 

“My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with a boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” -Philippians 1:20