Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 

In the military, I learned that you never volunteered or should be very selective and informed about what you volunteered for.  I had a team leader who had a nasty habit of volunteering me for various things, and I asked him about it on one occasion.  He said, “Texas, it is because I know you can and will do the job.  I trust you.” 

On one hand, that was good to hear; on the other, it was, “Really, or do you just do it because you know that I won’t constantly complain?”  I never knew which it was on most occasions, but it did not matter; there was a job to do, and most of the time, I knew I could do it and do it right, so I took it in stride.

When it comes to the things of the Lord, sometimes we are like Ahimahaz 2 Samuel 18; we want to run even though we do not have the message, the gifts, talents, call, or commission to do the job.  The Lord may send a Cushi, and if we persist in asking to run, He might respond like Joab and finally say, “Run, then!” 

Ahimaaz ran and outran Cushi, and when he got to King David, he had no message, and the king turned him aside.  It should have embarrassed Ahimaaz because his zeal had overridden his wisdom.  Sometimes, the task is yours, and other times, you are not the main character in the play. 

Volunteering is good, but if the Lord does not choose to use you for that particular task, do not become discouraged or bitter; instead, say, “Lord, I know you know the best person for the job, and I trust you.”  In time, God will use you for something He has purposed.

I appreciate zeal but also appreciate the Gifts of God that He has deposited in various people.  If we truly function in God’s pattern, we will defer to the person with the “gifting” for the particular task and never become jealous, envious, or upset when someone else comes to the fore.  

It is not our church. It is God’s church.  It is not our ministry. It is God’s ministry.  We are “Body Parts,” and the Blood of Jesus links all together.  He is the head, and we are various parts of the same body. 

If you are an eye and I am an ear, my function is not seeing; that is your job. My job is hearing, and if we work together, we will not only accomplish more but also avoid the pitfalls that come with our limited realm of authority and gifting, and we will function as a unit as God intended.

Volunteer, and if God says, “No, I need a different gift and calling for this task,” rejoice and lend your support to the person God has chosen to use.  Later, when your gift is needed, they will support you.  Remember, in all things, it is His Church!  We are a building “fitly framed together” into a House for His purposes.

May God be with you as you go through your day, anointing and blessing you!