The only thing that stood out to me from January’s less than impressive Super Bowl game was Seattle quarterback, Russell Wilson’s, post-game interview. Wilson, an openly Christian man, shared about how his dad used to ask him, “Why not you, Russ?”
At the beginning of the season, he extended the same question to his teammates with the Super Bowl in mind. “Why not us?” The Seahawks rose to the challenge, not letting doubt creep in.
Months later, this question is still a whisper in my ear. No, not because I have any dreams or hopes of winning the Super Bowl (let alone winning an upcoming student-staff basketball game….). This question remains because of what I see, hear and read about happening in the world around us.
I hear about Katie, a 26 year-old woman from Tennessee who moved to Uganda and became mom to 13 girls. http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/
“Why not us?”
I hear about people casting out demons in Haiti and God healing the deaf.
“Why not us?”
Chris and I watched “Finger of God,” a documentary about the healing and miraculous power of God and saw video evidence of healings and miracles.
“Why not us?”
I came across this image yesterday. Substituting my name in place of the others made more true statements than I like to admit.
Despite all of these sins and character flaws, God used the people above to further the spread of the Gospel. If God can change a murderer like Paul, one of the greatest persecuters of Christians, into one of the greatest known missionaries, God can certainly use us…mere teachers from St. Louis.
We are willing, Lord. Use us.
And, God does. God does not wait until we’ve left the country to answer prayers or perform miracles. He is always ready to use our willing hearts.
This week, a friend’s nephew was hospitalized, not thought to make it. I prayed specifically for a miracle and healing, praying that God’s goodness and power would shine through. I prayed for peace.
For 10 minutes, the family mourned and believed that he was gone. Call it a miracle or call it a misunderstanding, but moments later, he began to respond to stimuli. He is still in critical condition, but there is no doubt in my mind that God heard the prayers of many.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14: 12-14
Why not you?
