“I don’t claim anything of the work. It is His work. I am like a little pencil in His hand, that is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used.”- Mother Teresa
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”- Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
Kyle Idleman concludes Chapter 2 of One At a Time with a look at Mark 1. In that chapter, Pastor Idleman noes, Jesus finds Himself surrounded by people in need. But, even though everyone needed Jesus to do something for them, Jesus always seemed to know how to make a difference in one person’s life. Above all, throughout the Gospels, Jesus made it clear that He only said or did anything as His Father directed Him.
Furthermore, Jesus spent time alone with God. That time allowed Jesus to refocus His purpose. Because Jesus began the day by attending to God’s work in Him, He knew what God wanted to do through Him.
A front-page article in the San Francisco Chronicle once featured metro bus driver Linda Wilson-Allen. Because Linda loves her passengers. For example, Linda knows the name of her riders and even waits for them if they’re a bit late getting to their stop. Most significantly, when Linda found out that a woman was new in town, she invited her over for Thanksgiving.
Linda sustains her loving attitude and servant-hearted actions through prayer. She sets her mood at 2:30 a. m. when she kneels to pray for thirty minutes. And Linda stresses she says she’s out there doing her job ministering. As a result, Linda sees things. God shows her things.
In conclusion, Pastor Idleman exhorts:
“Pray that God would give you ears to listen to him. Pray that he would give you his eyes for the people around you. Ask him to search your heart and point out anything that needs attention. Pray that what he wants you to say and do will overflow out of what he’s doing in your heart.”
Today’s question: Do you, like Mother Teresa, see yourself as a little pencil in His hand? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Proximity captures the love of Jesus”
