Invited

In Luke 23, after Jesus dies on the cross, it describes Joseph of Arimathea, who was on the council, as a good and righteous man, who was looking for the kingdom of God. It goes on to say that he didn’t agree with the decision or actions of the other council members that condemned Jesus to die by crucifixion. So Joseph did what he could. He asked and got permission to bury Jesus in a tomb that had never been used. From Joseph’s perspective, I’m sure this thing he was doing seemed small. After all, it’s not like he was able to convince the others not to condemn Jesus to death. He had failed at that. Now he was dead. Burying him seemed only a kind thing to do, not important or even necessary, but it’s all he could do, given the circumstances. He had no way of knowing that burying Jesus in that unused tomb was an integral part of God‘s plan for Jesus‘s story. That tomb was the place from which Jesus went to get the keys to hell and death. See Revelations 1:18. That tomb was the place from which he came back to life. The place where God’s angels rolled away the stone and Jesus got up and walked out the Victor over Satan and his whole plan. He walked out our Victor, our Hero, our Savior! That tomb marks a place and point in history that only Jesus was laid dead, and is now empty for all the world to see, along with the linen shroud He was wrapped in, as proof that He was there, dead, and now He is neither there, nor dead! The take away from the story is, when we are in the midst of circumstances that we believe are wrong, even evil, and we can’t change those circumstances, we should ask the Holy Spirit what we can do. Even if it seems small or insignificant, we should do what the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts to do, because no action, no deed that is instructed to us by God is insignificant or small. Everything God does has purpose and brings glory to Him, whether we understand it or not. His thoughts are higher than ours. If He prompts us to do something, it is an invitation to be part of God‘s plan and His work. If we don’t respond and do it, He will still accomplish His purpose and His work, but we will have missed out on being part of the story, part of the miracle. We will miss out on a purpose and plan for which He had designed for us before we were even born. See Psalm 139:16. Please allow me to rant for just a moment. A pet peeve of mine is the phrase, “God used me.” Saying someone used you has a very negative connotation in our world. God doesn’t use us. He invites us into His story, into His ministry, His healing, His miracles. We don’t have to say yes. If Joseph hadn’t been willing to do what God prompted him to do, God would have found someone else that was willing to step out in faith and obedience. Then they would have been part of the blessing and part of the story instead of Joseph. If the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish hadn’t been willing to respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit, it would have been someone else that did. If Mary hadn’t have responded to the invitation of God to be part of His plan, He would have found a different girl. He will accomplish His purposes, with or without me or you. So the next time the Holy Spirit prompts you, invites you to join Him in His ministry to the world around you, how will you respond? I want to say yes! My heart wants to join Him in what He is doing. Here I am Lord! Send me! “I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Who shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said,” Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8. He invites us. It’s an invitation, not a command. We are invited to serve, not forced. He wants us to experience the blessing of being part of His work. Therefore, He doesn’t use us, He ministers through us, if we say yes to His invitation.