Are You Willing to be Empty???

(Here is an excerpt from Dr. John Goetsch's article "Made From Nothing" in the September 2007 issue of The Baptist Voice.)

In our selfish pride we want to believe that God needs our talents or our personalities to accomplish His work. The truth is, we have nothing outside of Him!!! The apostle Paul poses the question, ".... and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (I Cor. 4:7). Whatever you and I possess by way of ability or opportunity is a direct gift from God. John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Jesus said "... for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). It is when God gets us down to nothing (or empty handed) that He can make something from us.

One by one He took them from me,

All the things I valued most.

Until I was empty-handed;

Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth's highway grieving,

In my rags and poverty;

'Til I heard His voice inviting:

Lift your empty hands to me.

So I held my hands toward Heaven,

And He filled them with a store

Of His own transcendent riches,

'Til they could contain no more.

And I that I comprehended

With my stupid mind and dull,

That God could not pour out His riches

Into hands already full.

Why don't you empty yourself today of everything "you" are - your will, your goals, your dreams, your agenda? Pour it out before the Lord and confess to Him that you are nothing. Then step back and watch God take the "... things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence" (I Cor. 1:28-29).