“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” (Matthew 25:23). How would you like to hear that from Jesus? How would you like to hear that He is pleased with you? Would you like to hear Him invite you into the “joy of thy lord”? I’m sure that for each of us the answer is the same. We all want to please God and yet how many of us truly strive each day to do so?
The goal of the believer ought to be to live in such a way that our lives are pleasing to God and that we are always ready for His use. We want to be “in tune” at all times, so that God can pick us up and “play” us. When He does pick us up to “play” us, we want only the most beautiful of music to come out. Imagine, if you will, the greatest violinist ever tasked with playing a beautiful symphony. He walks onto the stage, picks up his violin and begins to play. But instead of beautiful music, he hears jarring and harsh notes. The violin is out of tune. No matter what he does, his music will never be beautiful if his instrument is out of tune. The same holds true for us as believers. If we aren’t “in tune” when the Lord needs us, we won’t be able to be His hands extended – to perform the tasks He sets before us. He will still accomplish His work, but with a different choice of worker. My friends, it is a sad thing to be the instrument God passes up.
So how do we keep ourselves “in tune”? How do we live in such a way that we please the Lord? “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). First of all, we must hang onto the truth that we cannot please God without faith. Faith unlocks the barriers between ourself and God. In order for us to come to God we must believe that He is God, in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, and that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Therefore, we must have faith and daily remind ourselves that we must seek Him. God never changes (Malachi 3:6), therefore we are responsible if we are not seeking Him and His companionship daily. This is key. We must seek God daily. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). He promises us that if we seek Him, we will find Him. And He rewards those who seek Him.
We also keep ourselves “in tune” by keeping ourselves free from the influences of the world. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). It is reasonable (i.e. the bare minimum that God asks of us) that we keep ourselves holy and pure. Romans 8:8 reminds us, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit ” (Romans 8:5). As believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Our very bodies are temples. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (I Corinthians 3:16-17). We cannot be useful to God if we are living in sin and partaking of the world’s offerings.” Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (II Timothy 2:19 – 21). We cannot be prepared and “meet” for the Master’s use unless our lives are clean from the sins of the world.
Lastly, we keep ourselves “in tune” by being obedient servants of Christ. ” Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14). “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). We owe a debt that we can never pay to Jesus Christ and the only way that we can return His amazing love is by our obedience. We have the Holy Spirit in our hearts and He promises to lead and guide and direct us in all that we do. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26). We are to follow the still, small voice of Holy Spirit in our hearts each day. When we think that God is asking us to do something, we must do it. We needn’t stop and think, but we just obey. “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you” (John 15:15 – 16). Obedience is love because by our obedience we show God our love for Him.
Do you need a “tune up”? Do you need to “tune your strings”? Thankfully, we can always come to God for a tune up. ” f we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). A tune up begins with confession and ends with action. My friends, if you need a tune up so that you will be in perfect “playing order” and “meet for the Master’s use”, come to Him in confession, clean up the influence of the world in your lives and follow Him. As you awaken each day, come to Him asking Him to lead and guide and direct you and then follow Him when He calls. If you are following Him, you will always be ready for Him to pick you up and use you.