Episode 32 - Does God Need Me?

As we walk with our Master we might wonder if there is value in our efforts.  Certainly we have value as God's children in much the same way our children have value to us.

In this episode I look at the question "Does God Need Me?"  Of course He does, but I'd like to look briefly at why this is so.

I invite you to listen and share with others.  I most of all hope you will be encouraged as you recognize your value to our Father.

I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.

Please contact me if you have questions or you wish to share with me something about your walk with the Master. My email is walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com

The Prattville family meets at 344 East Main Street, Prattville, AL. Our web site is: https://prattvillechurch.org.

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Transcript

Hello friends, I'm your host Dave Laton and welcome to the podcast, Walking With Our Master, an outreach of the Prattville Church of Christ designed to inform, encourage, and teach as we daily walk with our Master. 

 Today I want to discuss an interesting question.  Does God Need Me?  After all, I’m just me.  There isn’t much I can do or say that would make me worthy to God.  Well, of course you already know the answer to that.  But let’s explore why God needs us.

 I first thought about this while watching one of my favorite movies.  In the 2002 movie, “The Count of Monte Cristo” the main character Edmond Dantes, reached the point of his imprisonment when he had lost his simple faith in God.  Before his current suffering he was just starting a wonderful life.  He had been promoted to captain of the ship on which he served.  He was to get married soon.  His fortune and future seemed secure only to be torn away by a jealous colleague.  As a result, all was lost.  Now he rotted away in prison, tortured and lonely.  But, through chance he found a companion, a fellow prisoner and former priest.  In their discussions Dantes made the statement that he did not need God.  His companion offered a profound reply.  In referring to Dantes’ statement, the priest stated, “Ah, but God needs you.”

 There is incredible merit to this statement.  It is especially critical to those of us who teach others about God’s words.  Does God need us?  After all, He is God, the creator of everything.  And we are flawed and often helpless humans.  How could it be that the God of the universe needs us?

 Perhaps this is not as presumptuous a question as we think because of the methodology implemented by God to bring the gospel of salvation to others.  

 God told Peter and the other apostles that He would give them the keys to the Kingdom.  A key locks and unlocks.  So God gave Peter and the others the message that unlocks the mystery of our salvation.  It could have been communicated by God Himself.  It could have been implanted in us by the Holy Spirit.  Or it could have been communicated by angels.  Yet God, in His infinite wisdom knew that we needed to be involved.  It not only would serve to help others, but it would create in us a deep knowledge and appreciation for the gift of God’s grace and salvation.

 Notice that throughout the New Testament following the day of Pentecost, men spread the Gospel.  In every case, even when the Holy Spirit intervened, it was men and women that taught others of God’s wonderful way.  

 There are several examples of this in the New Testament.  My two favorites are the conversion of the Ethiopian official in Acts 8 and the conversion of Cornelius, the first non-Jew in Acts 10.

 In Acts 8, we read that an Ethiopian official had been to Jerusalem to worship.  While traveling, he was reading from the book of Isaiah about a prophecy regarding our Lord Jesus.  He did not understand what he was reading.  The Holy Spirit directed Philip, a disciple and preacher of our Lord to go to the Ethiopian to teach him. By the way, this was not Philip the apostle.

 So Philip does so and the Ethiopian was converted to our Lord and baptized.  Now, the Holy Spirit could easily have revealed to the official the meaning of the words from Isaiah, yet that’s not how God works.  He used Philip to be the vehicle through which the gospel was proclaimed.

 The other example I referenced is Cornelius from Acts 10.  Cornelious was a Roman soldier, a Centurian.  A Centurian was a commander of 100 soldiers.  As Acts 10 opens we see that Cornelius is a believer in God.  He is described as a devout man who feared God.  He prayed and was generous in helping others.  Then an angel appears to him and tells him to send for Peter who would tell him what to do.  The angel could easily have told Cornelious what to do, but again, that’s not the way God works.  Cornelius sends for Peter and learns from him what God wanted Cornelius to do.  Peter explains to Cornelius about Jesus.  The result is the Cornelius, and his household are converted to our Lord and baptized. 

 Paul makes a tremendous statement about God using us as His messengers of salvation in 2 Corinthians 4:7. He states, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (ESV)  

 God could do it, but He wants us to.

 Today we continue to be the conduit through which God’s plan works.  It is the sacred mission for each of us to teach others and bring them to a greater understanding and salvation through our Lord.  

 Some are able teach formal Bible classes.  Others enjoy and teach home Bible studies or through personal relationships.  

 All of us have the ability and must be a positive influence, thus teaching through our example if nothing else.  It is also our sacred mission to continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom that we may continue to teach others and not lose our own faith.  

 There is no greater role or humble calling for any of us than to share and teach what we know about God’s gracious salvation.  It is a mission that we must not take lightly.  

 As remarkable as it seems, Yes, God needs us to fulfill His plan for the spiritual salvation of others.  Not that he couldn’t do it, but rather he knew it would strengthen us as we became a part of the plan, so He placed the spreading of the Gospel in our hands.  

 We must continue to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to meet this tremendous responsibility.  We must not fail our God.  He has faith in us.  

 Well friends, I'm your host Dave Laton.  Thank you for joining us in this podcast.  I hope you will continue to do so. If you wish to share with me something from your walk with our Master or you would like to learn more, please email me at:  walkingwithourmaster@gmail.com.

 I invite you to follow our podcast and share it with others as together we walk with our Master.  And until next time, remember, we give all glory to God the Father.