Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

There is a Mecedes E 450 parked down the block from me that appears to never have been moved. When new this car would sell for around $72,000 dollars. It seems a shame to buy something of such high value and then never use it. That is my world view.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Colossians 1:14 GOD’S WORD Translation

His Son paid the price to free us, which means that our sins are forgiven.

Colossians 1:14 EasyEnglish Bible

God’s Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sins and made us free. Yes, God has forgiven us.

What is said in Colossians 1 is important to understand why we were ransomed in the first place.

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

If that isn’t plain enough, let me make it easy for you.

Colossians 1:13a EasyEnglish Bible

God has saved us from the dark kingdom where Satan rules.

The reason I mentioned the Mercedes is because somebody holds the pink slip on that car and the title cannot be transferred until all liens are paid. It doesn’t matter if the car is used or not, the bill comes due and ownership does not change until its ransom is paid.

Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

Sadly the lost do not believe in God or Satan and only revel in the sin they so enjoy. They have no clue about the penalty for sin.

Romans 6:10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

Satan exacted a huge cost to let us go free. All our sins were put on Jesus so that we could go free. He who knew no sin became sin to set us free. Title transferred, thank you God.

Luke 8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.

Sometimes the truth is revealed in ways we do not expect.

These demons recognized that Jesus had authority to grant permission.

I ended yesterday’s post with a bold statement of faith.

I prayed, “Use me to do your will!”

God answered me. “An empty vessel has no desires.”

What I saw in that moment was that God does not need our permission to do His will in us or through us. Nor does He have to tell us when He does. We are His to do with as He pleases.

What God tells us in answer to our prayers is for us to understand how God works in our lives.

My prayer was selfish. I wanted to feel useful. That is not an unreasonable thing but God was dealing with my insecurity. I wanted to be seen. Glorifying self is stealing God’s glory. That God will not allow.

John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

Look at this example.

Luke 8:44-46 English Standard Version

44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”

If God the Father doesn’t even make His own begotten Son aware that He will be used, what makes us think we have the right to give God permission to do His will?

An empty cup has no desire to be used. It moves because of the master’s hand.