God Calls Those Who Are Available

God made us all capable, but are we all available?

We were made to be God’s ambassadors through service to His Kingdom and through communication of His message. As such, we are all capable. I wonder though… do we all answer when called?

To be capable is to have the ability to achieve. It’s the competency and proficiency of know-how. It’s possessing a skill set that allows one to triumph and to accomplish.

We were all born with the ability to become qualified. You may have heard before, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” And this is very true. But just because you are capable, does not mean you are preferred. Or even desirable, for that matter. Why is this? It’s because the capable are not always the most ideal choice. Just like those who are called need to be qualified, those who are capable need to be available.

For I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

This well-known verse brings to light to both capability and availability. Through the strength of Christ, our capability arises out of our willingness and resolve to be present with him, in him, and through him. This resolve is what also strengthens us.

When Jesus chose his disciples, he didn’t seek out the educated, wealthy, or religious men of the day. He chose four fishermen, a tax collector, a zealot, and others of ordinary, non-specified means. Why? One reason is they were not tainted with legalism or self-righteousness. Another reason: they were available.

Capability in itself was not a prerequisite or qualification for God to work through the disciples. And it’s not for us either. Their availability allowed them to be at the disposal of Jesus. He told them to come and follow, and they did. When Jesus asked a man to follow as his disciple, the man procrastinated saying he had to bury his father. Jesus responded, “Let the dead bury the dead.” Rather than listening to his spiritual sensitivity, the man and his sense of availability became hindered by his worldly understanding.

When seeking opportunity in how to be of service to God, there are three aspects of availability to consider:

Accessibility: Being accessible means being easily reached and approachable. God wants for us to be accessible to the Holy Spirit and to others. In order to be used for good works, we have to recognize where we can best be used.

Coachability: If we are going to be available when called upon, then we must be teachable. There is another aspect to coachability: the obedience to listen.

Readiness: Those who find themselves in a stagnant cycle are most often not willing to move when movement becomes a requirement. We must be ready and willing to go at all times. You never know when you will be called.

Are you ready? More importantly, are you available?