Able: February 5, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2014.

ABLE

DEFINITION:

Denoting ability; having the means or power to act; talented; competent; intelligent; skilled.

SCRIPTURE:

And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people: rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. Exodus 18:25

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The word ABLE in the verse above in the original Hebrew is CHAYIL. This word according to the Hebrew dictionary has several shades of meaning. These several meanings have value for us today because God is looking for ABLE men and women to serve Him.

First, there is strength to enable one to do valiantly. In Psalm 60:12 it reads: “Through God we will do valiantly.” Valiantly means boldly and courageously. Able men of the Lord should have no fear to do boldly whatever the Lord asks them to do to advance the Lord’s cause and grow the body of believers. In God’s hands are “strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.” I Chronicles 29:12b

The second meaning is that there is power. Being able means having power. Psalm 110:3 reads: “Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power.” As believers we do not rely on our power but on God’s power. “In Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.” I Chronicles 29:12.

The Hebrew word for ABLE is used in Deuteronomy 8:18: “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant.”

The Hebrew word CHAYIL is also used in I Kings 1:52 meaning honesty. Honesty is essential to making a great man. Solomon said: “If he proves himself an honest (CHAYIL) man, not one hair of him shall fall to the earth.

Being ABLE the way God wants us to be means that we need to do what we do boldly and courageously, making use of our God-given abilities and earthly wealth and relying on His strength and power.

We often hear the phrase being said: “GOD IS ABLE.” Even though He is more than able, He is looking for able men and women like us to work for Him.  In II Chronicles 25:9 King Amaziah said.”The Lord is able to give you much more.” We serve a God that is able to do the impossible. He is looking for ABLE people to serve Him.

Yes, it is God who equips us to be able to serve Him. Yes, it is His planned purpose for us here on earth to serve Him. So why are there not more who are truly serving the Lord? There is just one possible reason---“US” ---. We ourselves stand in the way. We are not willing to pay the price to serve Him.

In Joshua 24:15 Joshua told the Children of Israel, who had turned to serving false gods, that “you must choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” We each one must make our choice as to whom we will serve. It is the Lord who makes us more than able to serve Him but He can only make those who have chosen to serve Him able to serve Him. 

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in James 1:5.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

PRAYER:

Thank You Lord that You are able to do the impossible and that You are the source of strength and power that enables me to serve You valiantly and honestly to further Your kingdom.