Gems

"Potential"- Our potential is what we can be, but haven't yet attained.  God didn't choose us because of what we were.  He chose us because of what we can be when He works unhindered in us.  Naturally, all of us have potential, but when the Gospel comes, we have potential to be what we aren't by nature.  John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."  This verse reminds us of what we can be in Him.  The best way to fulfill the potential that God has in mind for us, is to have the attitude that Samuel had as a child, "Speak Lord, thy servant heareth." Maybe God has told us something at this convention that we should do.  Are we asking God to tell me how to do it?  That is how we will fulfill our potential.    

 

While still in Egypt God promised the Children of Israel a land, and He often spoke of their future in that land. "When you enter the promised land, When these things come to pass. Etc."  God saw their potential.

 

Psalms 78:9, "The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle."  We don't know what went through their minds, but they didn't fulfill their potential. 

 

Song of Sol. 2:15 "Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vine..."  Little foxes are playful, and fun, but they can become big.  They have potential for destruction.   

 

Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters."  Serving two Masters at the same time is beyond the potential of every man.  We need to make up our mind which one we want to serve, because none of us can serve two.

 

Our potential is equal to what God wants us to do.  Speaking of the tribe of Asher, Deuteronomy 1:25, "...as thy days, so shall thy strength be." 

 

Is. 40:3, "... they shall mount up with wings as Eagles."  The One who made the eagle also made us.  He sees this potential, and is promising us a power which is not of us, to fulfill His blest design.

 

When Peter was first called to the ministry he was known as Simon Barjona.  But the Lord saw in this crude fisherman, a very special potential that changed him to be known as Peter (Rock).  Thou art Simon, but you will be called Peter.  By the end of the Gospel he was known as Peter.  In Matthew 14:28, Peter walked on the water.  Let's not be critical of Peter.  He went to the limit of the potential that God gave to him. 

 

Of the woman who broke the Alabaster box and poured out the ointment on Jesus, he said of her, "She hath done what she could."  She reached the potential that God gave to her.