The story is told of an elderly widow who was eager to serve Christ, though she had little to offer. She prayed for direction, and realized she could use her skill as a pianist to bring blessing to others. She placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune:

“Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent–the service is free.”

The notice included her number, and when people called her, she asked what hymn they would like to hear. Within a few months, her playing had brought cheer and comfort to several hundred people.

What a beautiful example of how God can take the little we have to offer, and transform it into that which brings rich blessings to the lives we touch!

Many times we as Christians hesitate to serve God not because we don’t want to, but because we believe we don’t have much to offer.

Perhaps you are in this place today? Believing that your hands are too empty to serve God?

Maybe this season of your life is full of kids and clamor, school bags and lunches, sticky kitchen floors and crumbs on the couch, and you look back to the days you could actively serve in your church with a bit of wistfulness.

Or maybe you’ve hit the golden years, and you’ve found they’re not so golden…and just getting to church is a major accomplishment.  And you look at the young people filling the pews, wishing you had their health and energy to pour into service to God.

Perhaps you’ve felt a specific call of God upon your life, but time drags on as you wait for His hand to move, and now you feel as if you’ve been put on the shelf.

Or maybe, as sadly happens in churches (because churches are full of imperfect people), the last time you tried to serve, it didn’t go so well. And the very ones you were trying to help turned around and hurt you.

Or perhaps you simply believe you have absolutely, no-doubt-about-it, positively, NOTHING that God can use.

If any of these words describes your situation, I want to encourage you today.

There are no hands too empty to serve our God.

He can take a willing heart and hands that seem empty and bring great blessing.

God took the staff of Moses and led a entire nation out of slavery.

He took a widow’s last handful of meal and bit of oil and produced bread to last until a ravaging drought ended.

He took a shepherd boy’s harp and brought forth the most beautiful songbook known to mankind.

He took a young virgin’s willing heart and gave His Son to the world.

He took five loaves of bread and two fish and fed thousands.

Over and over in Scripture, we see the Almighty God of the universe stooping down to take the small, the insignificant, the miniscule offerings made by willing hearts.

He took those small offerings and used them to advance His Kingdom and frustrate the forces of evil.

The truth that you need to know, deep down in your heart today is this:

God can take your words, your prayers, your pen, your home, your talents, your smile, your hands, your feet, your one willing heart.

And bring forth something magnificent for His Kingdom.

There are no hands too empty to serve Jesus.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24