What Will You Allow God Do With You?

By Joe Chesser     When God sent Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel, He had something different in mind. Israel’s first king, Saul, was the people’s choice.  The people had wanted to be like the other nations around them. They no longer wanted to let God be their King.  In fact they never really did since leaving Egypt (1 Sam. 8:4-9). So, God allowed them to have a king that would please their desires, though severe warnings had been given about what this king would do to the people (1 Sam. 8:10-18). They didn’t care. They didn’t want to listen to God; they wanted a king. So, God gave them Saul.     This time, however, God was going to do something different. He wasn’t going to appoint the next king according to the thinking of the people. Instead, He was going to choose a new king that would please Him. When God sent Samuel to anoint the next king, he learned that God looked at things much differently than people do. People look at the outward appearance; God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). God chose David, the 8th son of Jesse.  David wasn’t the strongest or the most experienced person for the job. In fact, he was just a youth when anointed, and likely in his mid-teens when he fought Goliath.  But, and this is huge, it didn’t matter how old or how strong or how experienced David was, he was the man for the job because God was with him! It says that from the day Samuel anointed David, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power (1 Sam. 16:13).     Here's the point. When the Spirit of God comes upon someone, powerful things can happen. Despite the weaknesses of the individual, the Spirit can do marvelous things through those people. The Spirit of the Lord came upon men like Othniel, Gideon and Samson, and empowered them to win battles and judge the Israelites. The Spirit of the Lord came upon men like Isaiah, Amos and Jonah, and empowered them to prophesy to sinful nations. God doesn’t need the strong or the intelligent or the influential to do His work. He just needs people with willing hearts to allow Him to work through them. God saw David’s heart and knew that when the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, remarkable things would happen. In a very short time David’s reputation became “… he knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man.  And the Lord is with him” (1 Sam. 16:18). Only 5 verses after the Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.     What can God do with you? If you have a heart like David’s, what can God do with you? If you allow the Spirit of the Lord to work through you, what can God do with you? If you have faith and refuse to quench the Spirit, what can God do with you? What can He help you become? What can He help you do? Answer: anything He wants!     God wants your next door neighbor to learn about Christ. Can He use you?     God wants those who are suffering to be comforted. Can He use you?     God wants godly leaders in His church. Can He use you?     God wants to show the world what true love is.  Can He use you?     God wants the church to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). Can He use you?     God wants to  ____________________ (fill in the blank).     Will you allow God to work mightily through you?      Will you do it today?

- Joe Chesser worked for years with the Fruitland Church of Christ, Fruitland, MO. Now retired from full time preaching, he may be contacted at joeandareva@yahoo.com