God Needs No One: Privilege to be Used by Him

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Luke 19:40

Our self-sufficient God needs no one! Yet He invites us to worship and serve Him.

The Lord has just come into Jerusalem riding on a colt, in what is famously known as the Triumphal Entry, The crowds are beside themselves with joy. They are throwing their cloaks on the road, as Jesus rides on. They are praising God in loud voices, for all the miracles they have seen. There is unabashed celebrations and worship.

There is also, however, an extremely unhappy lot, the Pharisees. They watch from a distance, in anger and frustration. Seeing the jubilant crowds, the widespread acceptance and worship that Jesus was receiving, was more than they could handle. They march right up and ask Jesus to rebuke and restrain the crowd. How could they allow such a blatant public display of adoration to go on unchecked, right? It is in response to this demand from the Pharisees, that the Lord, the Son of God, the Lord of all creation, the Maker of the universe, replies that if the people keep quiet, the stones will cry out!

When God made all of creation, He did it single-handedly. He didn’t need man.

When man had fallen into sin, when the time was right, God sent His own Son, not man to redeem man. He didn’t need man.

Today as He continues to fulfill His kingdom purposes, He is still the same amazing God, who can do all that He chooses and purposes. He still doesn’t need man.

Yet, the beauty, however, is that this amazing all-powerful God graciously chooses to use us humans, weak and sinful as we, to fulfill His Kingdom purposes. The fact remains that God is more than able to do all that He wishes, without your help and mine. And yet, He uses us! What a privilege!

What a privilege to be used by the King of kings and Lord of lords, to advance His Kingdom. What a privilege to be called to praise this God and worship Him through our actions and service, small or big. What a privilege, that though God can use anything in all of creation, even the stones, which will cry out in praise, He longs for the praise that rises from my lips. What a privilege indeed!

However, many a time, this perspective is lost in the busyness of all the action and service. There is an innate sense of self-righteousness that drives many a Christian. Those who behave like those around them, their families, the church, the world, and everything in it, would simply fall apart, if not for the likes of them! They seem to have the attitude that the world is privileged to have them.

But truth be told, nothing is farther from the truth. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will suffer if you and I don’t do that which we have the opportunity and resources to do. The same God who created this entire universe without any anyone’s help is still very much on the throne and is more than capable of fulfilling His Kingdom purposes, with or without our help! The fact is it is your privilege and mine to be used by this almighty and amazing God, and NOT God’s privilege to have us serve Him!

God needs no one. If you and I don’t choose to worship and serve Him, He will find someone else who will. So the question is, are you and I available to worship this amazing God through our praise and service or will He have to find someone else instead?

Just as the stones would cry out in praise if needed, let our lives resound with genuine devotion, recognizing that while God doesn’t need us, He desires our willing hearts. May we serve Him with joy, humility, and a deep sense of awe, knowing that God’s purposes will ultimately prevail, and it’s an honor to play a part, no matter how small, in His glorious plan.

Ponder

1. Have I taken time to appreciate the amazing privilege of being used by the King of kings and Lord of lords?
2. Am I truly humbled by the privilege of serving God’s kingdom? Do I approach my service with humility or a sense of self-importance?
3. What steps can I take to align my motives with God’s purposes, rather than seeking to fulfill my own sense of importance?

Scripture Writing: Psalm 50:10-12

For more daily devotions like this – At the Potter’s Wheel (Kindle)