The Ability of Availability

"Our greatest ability is availability." The old axiom is true, and faithful to Scripture.


"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" (Hebrews 12:1).


The born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is an abundantly gifted and equipped creation of God, capable of great things for his Savior's glory. The Christian's capacities, however, were not spiritually birthed to be used independently.


"Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24).


"True holiness" means that we are separated unto the Lord Jesus for His purposes. We belong to Him, we know it, and we consistently acknowledge the reality of being "bought with a price." In essence, we ask God to avail Himself of His rightful claim upon us, working in us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." The gifts He bestowed upon us through the indwelling Holy Spirit are thus energized to fulfill the reason for our existence. Our abilities are actualized by their availability to God (I Corinthians 6:20; Philippians 2:13).


Recognizing that we belong to God rather than ourselves prepares us to be "a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." Thereby we live in the Biblically-defined faith of both trust and submission of ourselves to the Lord. "Ye are not your own" declared Paul, and there are few greater assurances of peace in Scripture. Indeed, only one benevolent master exists in the universe. All others, including ourselves, destroy us as they govern us. Making our abilities available to God for His purposes enlivens us and brings our hearts to rest even we are mightily energized to stand, walk, and run for the glory of the Lord Jesus (II Timothy 2:21; I Corinthians 6:19).


"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."
(Matthew 11:28-30)