May 8, 2004

• Offerings

  
  

  The most quotable quote of the day, said by Yan Zhang, regretfully, "I feel like all I can give God is my youth."  She was meaning, "That's it.  That's all I've got.  It's not much anything special at all.  No true skill.  Not a surgeon."  But I think that what she's wanting to offer God is the best.  Let's not give God our lives after we've finished with our careers.  Let's not make missionary-living the "second career" or the second choice.  Let's do it now, first.  These are the best years of our lives!

  
  

  Last night Dr. Taylor spoke from Exodus 35:30-35.  Bezalel, the man being spoken of, was not a Levi.  Only Levites, back in that day, were allowed to serve the Lord in His temple.  And yet, this man was permitted to work on the house of God.  He was filled with the Spirit of God.  What was it that he did?  He had skills, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.  He offered these skills and gifts to the Lord's service.  He designed and constructed the sanctuary.  You engineers out there, God wants to use your skills!  Ex 36:2.  But you must be willing.

  
  

  This morning Dr. Matthew Koh, who will be taking over for Dr. Taylor for MSI, added to this message.  He spoke of Peter in Luke 5.  Peter was holding onto his fishing boat as a backdoor.  He said he'd be a fisher of men, but he was still fishing for fish.  At certain points in his life, Dr. Koh used being a surgeon as his "fishing boat."  He was using his profession as a backdoor.  He was saying, "I will use my job to serve You, Lord, but my job is mine, my degrees are mine."  He thought he'd have the surgeon's knife in one hand and the Sword of the Spirit in the other.  But the reality is that there is only one knife.  One knife, one life.  Must live it all for God.  Don't be half in and half out.

  
  

  Yes, God wants to use the skills and abilities He's given you.  But that is not your calling; it is not your vocation.  Being a witness for Him is.

  • 6:20 pm
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