Dear Faith Family, 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them, (Ephesians 2:10). 

By necessity I’ve become a bit of an organizer.  An explanation?  Ok.  Thanks to those that my father left behind, the gifts of a generous friend, and what I’ve purchased, found, and collected over the years, I now have a collection of tools. 

One of those spiffy (yes, that’s a word!) double decker, red, metal tool chests on wheels houses many of those tools.  One of my favorite steps in any given job has become the clean up and return of the tools to their “place” (their comfortable little drawer in the tool chest).  Why has that become a favorite?  Experience. 

My experience includes many projects.  Some projects may involve, let’s say, a twenty-minute job.  But that job turns into an hour.  Why, you might ask, does it take an hour?   Well, the first forty minutes are spent looking for the proper tools!  And the probability of that being the case (having to look for the tools) rises with each moment of time restriction.  You with me?  That is when frustration starts knocking on the door.  (You want to answer the door but you can’t find the right tool!) 

Ok.  Ok.  You get the point!  Some of you are relishing in the beauty of organization.  Still others are now motivated to begin organizing.  And some?  Some may be overcome by the lack of organization.  That’s not the point. 

Here’s the point.  God is not in my toolbox.  Wait.  Stop.  Read that again.  God is not in my toolbox.  I’ve often attempted to use Him to build my projects.  But He seems more interested in His agenda than mine.  The Creator of the universe and Redeemer of His children has the master plan.  He isn’t waiting for us to tell Him what to do today. 

Occasionally I make my way into the garage, up the steps into the closet, and stand in front of the tool chest.  One at a time I open the drawers and ask each drawer of tools what they would like for me to do today.  Ok.  I don’t do that!  That would be weird. 

No more weird than me (the tool) telling God what He needs to be doing today.  Here’s the thing.  We are the tools in God’s tool chest.  So, as He opens the drawer of each new day, our delight is in His plans.  Think about it.  God is up to more than we can imagine today.  And He includes us (tools) in the accomplishment of His agenda today! 

A couple of follow up thoughts?  One: thank God for Him including us in His plans.  Two: ask Him what He wants to do with you today.  

Learning how to be a tool, 
Pastor Karl