Start crude, start stupid, start afraid
At your level, some people need the little light you have conceived
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.”
That scripture is from Romans 12:6.
There is a lot to unpack there.
1. We do what we do for God’s kingdom by his grace.
This statement is not a casual one at all. If we all understood this, we would know that there is no room for coveting what you have not been graced with.
You will find peace and rest in what God has given you, and you will be able to face forward and focus on your calling.
“for doing certain things well…” Romans 12:6
A couple of people have told me, ‘You do this thing so well,' or ‘You talk about this thing so well.’ It is not just about skill only; I have been graced to do those things well. Trying to do things the way someone else is doing them is you leaving the grace God has given you for that task.
The beautiful thing is God has given everyone something. No person has not been graced. We all have been given something.
Don’t try to sound like or copy anyone. When you follow the grace you have been given, with it comes your “unique” voice, approach, and method of doing that thing. We should convince ourselves that these things are not haphazard. God is very meticulous. He’s not dumb. If He gives you grace, in that grace is your unique way of expression.
My use of the word “unique” is not to sound different or novel. No. It is more about your method of communication that would be most effective for those hearing you.
NOTE: If you often know what to communicate but don’t know how to communicate it, don’t force it. Stay with the process of building yourself, your utterance will build and flow naturally. You can’t stop it. You’re too small to actually stop God’s gracing on your life. It will find expression one way or the other, no matter how much you try to surpress it. That’s how powerful graces are. No, you’re too small to stop them, at best, it will still find expression in a corrupted form. God’s sovereignty? Yes. The thing that is made cannot say to the maker what does thou?
Sometimes you see the passion with which some persons do the things they do, and you know that they didn’t go somewhere to develop such passion. Well, that’s for that.
2. Use what God has given you.
It is the scriptures that say we should use what we have been given, not me. Haven’t you seen how ephemeral time is to be feeling ashamed or afraid to use your grace?
Do you think God will walk into your room and specifically tell you to use what he has given you?
If you’re not yet using your grace as you should, let it be that it’s because you’re still “studying to show yourself approved.”
But even at that, you know what’s beautiful? Everyone knows something more than others.
When I began speaking about my passions in my early days, there were people whose lives my words helped greatly. Looking back today, I’m wondering what these people were seeing and hearing from me that helped them. Yet, they were helped.
At your level, some people need the little light you have conceived; as occasion serves itself, don’t run away, for you may have been sent there for such a time as that.
Think about the little boy who displayed the quality of great leadership when he stepped onto the slippery road and began pushing away a log from a tree that fell across the road on a rainy day. All the adults remained in the car and kept honking at each other. No one was willing to step out. But this little boy led the way, and soon, stronger arms joined him, and the log was rolled away.
Did the child have the strength to push over the log?
Not in his wildest dreams!
But the little “grace” he could contribute in his crude, unrefined state was the “effort.”
Maybe you just need to make those little “irrelevant” efforts as a statement to your future that you’re coming!
Start crude. Start stupid. Start afraid. But keep your heart open, for there is always someone who knows more than you.
I did not say you should go and “open a church” when it’s not time. I am saying while you’re waiting and building for the right time, “open the church” on your family members, classmates, friends, etc.
I pray we are rid of every vanity in our minds, amen.
As the great apostle would say, “The rest I’ll talk about some other time.”
May the grace of the Lord keep your hearts perpetually in his love.
May all we do stem from a heart of love for God’s kingdom and humanity.