The usefulness of some is protracted, while others…are taken away early, that those who survive may see that the Lord can carry on His work without them. He who has the fulness of the Spirit will never lack instruments to carry on His work. He can raise them up as it were from the very stones. He can call the most unworthy persons, and bring them from the most unlikely places, to labour in His vineyard. Had it not been so, you would have never heard of me. From what a dung hill of sin and misery did he raise me, to place me among the princes of his people! Consider what I was, and where I was (in Africa) and you must acknowledge I am a singular instance of sovereignty and the riches of His mercy!
JOHN NEWTON
(Source: Wise Counsel, p370)
Newton makes a very good point that the Lord provides for His work. It's very easy for us to think that the work we do depends on us, when in fact everything depends on Him. It is humbling to know that God doesn't need any of us in the work that He does, and that it is an immense privilege that we are able to serve him at all in any area of life that he has called us to. This is something that we tend to forget quite easily. It is our fallen nature, that as time passes, we tend to see ourselves as indispensable to the work we are doing. But Newton is reminding us that the God who said to the darkness, ‘let there be light’ is surely able to raise stones to praise Him. He is able to use unlikely people to advance His work. This is something we need to remember all the time. God delights to work through us, but He has no need on us. God doesn't need anyone. He is self-sufficient. God provides for His work.
Copyright © Chola Mukanga 2026
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