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“But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” – Romans 6:13
As a young man I took up the trombone. My first lessons were from a book called, “Beginners’ Studies.” After that, I became acquainted with the book “Intermediate Studies,” and then my teacher introduced me to “Advanced Studies.” When I opened the third book, all I could see were black notes—quite unlike the beginners’ book, which had almost all hollow notes, and plenty of space between them. To make matters worse, I was having trouble counting, so I began to tap my foot while playing. My teacher told me not to tap my foot, but to simply use my big toe inside my shoe. After a few days of trying to use my big toe without creating problems for my other toes, I began to realize that my days as a musician were limited.
Each of us has unique talents, and I discovered early on that playing musical instruments is not one of mine. Had I studied music longer, I might have someday achieved the status of a second-rate musician. Still, I am fairly certain that I would have always lacked the fundamental talent for music that allows one to excel.
In the spiritual realm, however, it is possible for everyone to be a skillful instrument of righteousness. Natural abilities have no bearing on how well we do in serving the Lord, for there is no such thing as a “talent” for holiness. Actually, acknowledging our inability in this area is a key step to becoming instruments of righteousness, because only then can we receive the Lord’s righteousness.
Even those who seem the least godly can become proficient in righteous living. Such men as Moses from the Old Testament, and Paul the Apostle from the New Testament, had the blood of their fellowmen upon their hands before they surrendered to the Lord of Heaven. Yet after their conversions, their lives were drastically changed and they became instruments of righteousness, living in a way that causes us all to take a look at our own lives.
When we place ourselves in the Master’s hands, amazing things happen. Yielded to Him, our lives will not be merely “second-rate,” but rather, He will make us a virtuoso, executing the difficult passages of life with beauty and grace!
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