Weekly Thought – August 12, 2025
Fred believed God had a purpose for his life. Knowing he didn’t start out with a privileged background (in socio-economic terms), he became acutely aware of God’s plan for his usefulness. He spent time developing his gifts and making sure they were properly employed.
Being Used By God
I met Torrey Johnson when he was a young man first starting Youth For Christ. At that time I was asking certain people I admired for their photo and autograph. He gave me his with the inscription: “To Fred Smith, God’s man in God’s place.” I never felt I could hang that on the wall. I kept it in my desk drawer. I felt condemned by how seldom I felt that I was truly God’s man in God’s place.
During the times I felt that God was using me, I felt extremely small and extremely secure. When I felt big I felt insecure because I was depending on my own strength.
Recently when I asked a friend the usual question, “How’s it going?” he answered in the best possible way. He said, “Fred, I feel God is using me as I use my time to do the things that He wants done. It doesn’t get any better than this!” What a wonderful feeling to realize God is using us rather our using God. So long as we keep that spiritual dimension in our leadership, people will see God in us.
A great many people want to use God as a credit reference. They include their church work on their resume. They mention it in their bio so people will think them honest or reliable. They put fish symbols on their business cards, and car decals hoping others will believe they are more trustworthy than most others. Unfortunately, they can be relied upon to use God, but can God rely on them to be used?
An international evangelist once commented, “Everybody wants to be used by God but very few want to be prepared to be used.” The old gospel song line accurately describes the process: Melt me, Mold me, Fill me, Use me.
When I was growing up in a Southern Baptist pastor’s family we sang a hymn with this line: “I am satisfied with Jesus. But the question comes to me as I think of Calvary. Is Jesus satisfied with me?” Wanting to be God’s man in God’s place is the desire to satisfy Him.
This week carefully consider: 1) When do I feel God’s pleasure? 2) What can I do this week to bring beauty to my purpose? 3) What words comes to mind when I know I am being used by God?
Words of Wisdom: “Most Christians want to be used by God, but considerably fewer want to be prepared for His use.”
Wisdom from the Word: “But I am full of the courage that the LORD’s Spirit gives and have a strong commitment to justice.“ (Micah 3:8(a) NET Bible)