Assumptions

A confession--if you don't mind me being a little personal. Back in the teaching days, I would often, at graduation time, let my melancholy nature replace my optimism with pessimism. I would wonder how many of the graduates were really committed to following Christ. How many of them even thought it was important--that it mattered. I would wonder: Did I teach them correctly about Christ? Do they understand grace? Do they understand that grace is not an excuse to sin nor a free pass from the consequences of choosing to sin? Do they really know how much it will cost them to follow Him? If they do know, are they willing to walk that road? Do they know how horrible it is to walk the other road? Has my life reflected how essential Christ is to me day by day?
You're right, of course. What I was really doing was assuming that the business of molding students into disciples who love the Lord was my business and not His. Yes, that's idolatry. By God's grace and through His Spirit's power, I had--imperfectly--tried to teach and be an example of Christ. But the true power did not rest in my words or my example. The true power is " 'not by might, nor by strength, but by My Spirit' says the Lord." And, thankfully, He can use the feeblest efforts to glorify His Name and actually glorify His Name--make Himself visible through a person's life. What a humbling encouraging truth that is! That God can take a human man or woman--full of faults and shortcomings--and use them in His eternal plan for the ages is beyond my comprehension. But not His.
Those students I was worrying about in my egotism--and pessimism is egotism--were part of His plan, too. He would get them exactly where He needed them when He wanted them there. They, too, will be evidence of His Spirit's power, reflections of His glory. And by His grace. He had seen fit to use me to touch a young man or young women's life for Him. Incredible. The wisdom and power and love and goodness of God can take your breath away! "In every thing give thanks. for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus."