Week Eleven - Grasshoppers Who Believe

My husband and I are one of those unlikely couples. He is Cherokee, and I am a white girl. We are both from a tiny town in the middle of America with no significant claim to fame. Our education is basic, and we aren't rich. But none of that matters to God - when He called us to salvation and service, He didn't see any of that as strokes against us. We were grasshoppers who believed; that was all He needed to do His work.

Dick Brogden said, "The more improbable the conquest, the clearer it is that God did it." And truly, God has done the work in our lives. Our length of marriage, over 50+ years now, seemed impossible. Going to the mission field seemed impossible. Raising our family of five seemed impossible. Ministry has often seemed impossible. Establishing a church and purchasing a building, turning it over to a national pastor, and a plethora of other hurdles seemed impossible. But God has done it all.

Believing is so powerful because "when God assembles a team of insignificant people and wins with them, it is pretty obvious who is responsible for the victory." (Dick Brogden) And that is what God wants. He wants the glory and praise. He gives us the victory that we might point back to Him.

There may be things in your life that you consider marks against you, but in the hands of the Lord, they are but tools, tools of service for Him. The more improbable, the more impossible, the more unlikely, gives room for God to work more abundantly.

I always like Luke 17:10, where Jesus says to the disciples, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

Jesus, teaching the disciples about humility and service, says there is no room for pride or bonus points in the service of the Lord. Our service is but our called duty. It is our reasonable service, as we read in Romans 12:1-2. We are merely "grasshoppers who believe." We have the privilege of service, and as Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:12, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."

As I reflect on my life, only praise rises from my heart. I have a good husband, a happy marriage, precious children who love me, and fun, fun grandkids. My ministry is fruitful and challenging. I am so very privileged to be God's servant. There is no higher calling. I love teaching the Word and revel in its strength and beauty. Truly, I have it all, grasshopper than I am.

I hope such praise rises from your heart when you reflect on all God has done for you, fellow grasshopper.