WE ARE EQUIPPED
WE ARE EQUIPPED
It is often said, in Christian circles that “Whoever God calls, He equips.” This is very true.
I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that I am called. (And so are you all, actually) We all have a part to play as God’s children on this side of eternity. The equipment God handed to me is the same equipment that God has given to each and every one of us regardless of our abilities, our expertise or experience in any field, our giftings, our skills set and talents. This equipment is the Word of God. It is our users manual and our rule book for life. That is more than enough equipment for anyone who is called. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 NLT The above verses pretty much sum it all up.
Even Jesus refers to us like this: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5: 13-14 NIV If this is who Jesus says we are then we are exactly that. And we should see ourselves as such and believe that is who we are. The thing is, it does not really matter where we are. There are people in that very place who need the light and betterment that we are supposed to bring with us as believers. Our light must always shine and we should never stop making positive impact in our area of influence no matter how small we perceive it to be. As husbands, wives, parents, students, business executives, career people, professionals, casual or temporary workers, CEOs, church pastors and ministers, ushers, choristers and just about everyone, we should never let our lights grow dim or go out for any reason. Someone needs it to not lose their way.
The Word of God is full of wisdom for everyday living. From how to relate with people, how to react or respond in the face of trials, who to trust, how to spend our time to how to raise children. Without even digging deep, a Proverb a day (from the book of Proverbs) can transform a life, talk less of the impact of the gospels and the epistles in the New Testament. For this equipment to be of any real import to us, we must familiarise ourselves with it. Word study and meditation should be seriously prioritised. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8 KJV This was God’s instruction to Joshua when he succeeded Moses. God knew that for Joshua to be an outstanding and exemplary leader, he would need the book of the law as a guide. The same thing applies today.
Jesus also told us pretty much the same thing when He said: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.” John 15:4-6 NLT
A person called must develop and build on the habit of meditation. This is not even negotiable. Meditating on the Word of God is what makes that Word a reality in our lives. When the Word of God becomes our reality it will be seen because of the fruits it will produce.
Dear friends, I feel that it can never be over emphasised that it is of immense benefit to us to spend time meditating on the Word of God. It is the equipment that we need to thrive in this day and age.
Most of us have bibles on our phones. Take a much needed break from social media and pick just one verse from the Bible. Read it out loud, repeat it, look at each word and be sure you know what they mean. Then read the verse again out loud to yourself with the understanding of all the words. You might need a dictionary or just your friend Google to give meanings to words that you are not sure about. As you do this, you are actually abiding in Jesus. Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, positive things will begin to happen to you already.
Please try this for an entire day (speaking under your breath if your environment does not allow you to speak out loud), and see what happens.
We Are Equpped. (With the Word of God).
Let us use it well.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©