Many times we confuse God using us with approving us and we end up taking paths that are not what God wants for us. We seek to be used and do not act to move towards approval.
Used by god
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Philippians 2:13
To be used by God is to be a channel for a certain action.
For example, at one point the Lord used you to say something to someone who was asking for an answer. When you minister over someone’s life, it doesn’t come from you and your knowledge, but it is an act of God through your life.
And He can use anyone, any place, any situation. As in the book of Numbers, where the donkey that belonged to Balaam is used to send God’s message and guide the man in the opposite direction, where his mission would be.
In many situations we seek to be used, but this is so momentary. The animal didn’t keep talking and having words of wisdom coming out of its mouth for the rest of its life. It was just that moment, and then everything went back to normal.
God did not call you for something passing.
Approved by God
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
There is a big difference between being used and being approved. Being approved is something permanent, that changes our life, not just a moment. God calls us to have an approved character, which brings us closer to His heart.
The problem is not being used, but when we believe that this is the maximum we can get in relation to the Father. All that are approved are used. But not all that are used are truly approved…
To be approved is to lower our will and deeply live the will of God. When we know the word and follow it faithfully and completely, our character is that of an approved child.
We need to become blameless before the grace of God, having no cause for shame, but understanding the mercy and love that come from Him, obeying Him and fearing Him above all else. This is what leads us to be approved by the heart of the Lord.
More than a moment
“On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.”
1 Thessalonians 2:4
Approval changes a life, an entire future. Approval transforms our being completely and guides our steps.
This is the renewal and new life that God offers us when we are in Christ. We should only seek God’s approval. We must not take or refrain from taking any action seeking validation from the world and people, but seeking deeply and completely that the Creator approves of us.
God put the word in our hearts and gave us complete access to Jesus not just to be used periodically and vaguely. The veil was torn and the Spirit began to dwell within us to be called a chosen generation, chosen people, children with an approved character in the heart of Him who called us to an eternal Light, which never goes out.
