It’s Who You Know

It’s Who You Know.

By Brian C Collins

Titus 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him…
“We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him.” (Oswald Chambers)

This thought that we rely on our own more then God was the main point of my devotional today.  Summarized by the above quote.  I wonder how many ministries and servants in ministry have failed in the end or became disqualified at some point in their ministries simply for the fact they never really knew God or fell out of fellowship with Him.
We can be saved, burdened, called, and even in ministry.  However, if we never completely dive in and get serious with God we can fail.  If we never give our all or stop giving our all, to be close and right with Him, truly getting to know Him, we can fail.  How can we try to do His work when we are not even sure if what we have decided to do is His will?
I’m not referring to a preacher preaching or a missionary going to the mission field.  I am pointing out the specific, intricate decisions made concerning the path, the people, and the plan of our mission.  Yes, Preach go spread the Gospel.  But have we chosen our direction through Christ or for other reasons; are we dealing with people the way God wants us to, or by some other philosophy?  Are we following God’s plan or our own?
We need to be prepared and equipped for ministry.  Bible colleges can help with this. Nonetheless, we need to use all the tools at hand that God has supplied.  Without that close relationship with Christ, we could use good tools for the wrong job.  Using a hammer to beat something down when all that’s needed is a little sandpaper to smooth it away can cause more problems.
It is the Holy Spirit of God that will help us in these specific decisions.  When we are in tune with God we will hear that still small voice, we will see how that scripture applies, we will know which way to go.  Which way to turn the wrench, and what amount of force needs applying.
Knowing God as we should, we can be equipped through Him, and directed by Him.  It is God’s power, leading, and knowledge that brings success to a ministry.  We will be bringing glory to God because we are not doing it all on our own.  God is doing it through us because we are truly striving to get to know Him.