A Closer Walk
"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all things; and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring,'" Acts17:24-28 NASB.
God doesn't need us. He does not dwell in temples made by human hands. Neither is he served by human hands. So why all the fuss in our churches about serving Him and worshiping Him? It would seem that even though He does not need anything from us, He chooses for His own reasons to allow us to work hand in hand with Him to carry out His purpose and accomplish His will. Look at the Old Testament prophets. All brought messages from God. Many of their proclamations begin with the words, “Thus saith the Lord... ” Instead of using them as His preachers God could have written a message in the clouds like a sky writer, for the Israelites to follow. In the book of Daniel a detached hand wrote a message on a wall. Or He could have announced with a loud voice His instructions for all to hear and obey. He did just that with Jesus. "Now it came about when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also was baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, 'Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased,' Luke 3:21-22 NASB.
The Lord also did that when He called the Apostle Paul. "And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting'...And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one," Acts 9:3-5 and 7 NASB. Clearly those who were nearby heard this message from heaven.
So why did the Lord need the Old Testament prophets? He could have done what He wanted without them. The simple fact is that Almighty God didn't need them. But He nevertheless chose to use them. Our Lord chooses to allow us to participate in accomplishing His will; carry out His purpose. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it,” Isaiah 55:11 KJV. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-15 KJV.
How shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? How shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? Our God doesn't need us. But clearly He chooses to use us and work through us. His word will not return to Him void. It will accomplish that which He pleases. And it will prosper in whatever purpose He sends it. But who will go for Him? And who will spread His gospel? Is it not us His children?
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for for us?' Then said I, 'Here am I; send me,'” Isaiah 6:8 KJV.