In His Service

DEVOTION
1 TIMOTHY
IN HIS SERVICE
1 Tim 1:12-14

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Although I have dealt with portions of this passage yesterday I still feel I must comment in my heart regarding the first few words. Now again I have not been appointed to such a heavy task as Paul had but still I cannot help feel that all who have been brought into the glories light by the love of God have also been called to some form of service as well. They can be no useless appendage on or in the body of Christ; all must serve the rest in some capacity. This, of course, means I too have been called to a task, one which I have to skill, talent or training. Therefore I am left with no course but to thank my Lord Jesus Christ who has given me the strength and that he even considered me faithful in appointing me to his service. Without his guidance I would be lost as what to do, how to do it. I am always totally amazed in that choose to appoint me to service in both the written and spoken communication to others. Both my vocabulary and grammar are so lacking. My verbal skills are all due to God, because it is surely not because of me. Yet here I am being used by God to share messages of truth from his word. It is beyond my wildest thoughts that I would have ever been called to service in that capacity. Yet I know it is because he knew I would always give him the credit for anything I have done, always telling people I thank him for what he has done for me, in me and is doing through me. I know that sounds like a broken record, but how else can I continue to give him the thanks for the strength, for what he has enabled me to do. I know many believers I know are serving within the body using their skills learned through worldly education. I suppose that is fine. Perhaps that is how God has ordained it, I have no idea and thus I cannot say. He works is each and every person a different way. But I also know that each and every must be about serving out Lord in some way, either through the knowledge they have gained or through the enabling power of God alone. I do think many serve with God given natural talent, which they have had all their lives. It was not that way for me. God decided to not use my own talents I leaned toward, but to expressly direct me in a path of service in which I have absolutely no abilities or had any leaning toward at all. Yet I am extremely thankful for being able to serve, to be in his service.