THE AVAILABLE PAPER

"The woman then left her water pot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that I ever did: is not this the Christ?  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him'' - John 4:28 - 30    

In 1924, an English artist named William Wolcott went to New York to record his impressions of that great city. One morning he was in the office of his friend when the urge to sketch came upon him. Seeing some papers on his friend's desk, he asked, "May I have that?". His friend answered, "That's not sketching paper. That's ordinary wrapping paper". Not wanting to lose that spark of inspiration, Wolcott took that ordinary wrapping paper and made two sketches. Later that same year, one of those sketches sold for $500 and the other for $1,000, quite a sum for 1924 (Becoming a Person of Influence, John Maxwell).              

The Greatest Artist (God) can use different types of paper to sketch or display His agenda for humanity on earth. The sketching paper could represent the growing or matured believer while the ordinary wrapping paper represents the young convert. God cannot be stranded hence, whenever the former is not available, He often uses the latter to advance His course on earth.  

Jesus Christ proved this salient point in John 4:4-42. It was the sixth hour, and Jesus stopped by the city of Samaria to organize an open-air crusade beside Jacob's well. There was a need to send some people into Samaria to publicize the program and invite the people to the crusade. Unfortunately, all the sketching papers (His disciples) who could have handled this task perfectly were not available. They were hungry and had gone to buy food from the nearest grocery store in town. While still concerned about the non-availability of the sketching papers, Jesus lifted up His eyes and saw a woman of Samaria walking towards the crusade ground. The Greatest Artist didn't waste time in getting to work on that available ordinary wrapping paper. Jesus approached the woman, gave her the living water, and sketched some amazing testimonies upon the table of her heart. And immediately, the woman left her water pot by the well and ran into the city to advertise the program. Through her effort, many people in the city were drawn to the venue. This is simply amazing! How can someone who had never attended the school of disciple or Bible college speak and all the men of the city started trouping to the crusade ground to see Jesus? That is simply what God can do with any ordinary wrapping paper that is available for His use. 

Beloved, are you an ordinary wrapping paper? God wants to use you like that Samaritan woman. There is no limit to what the Greatest Artist (God) can do when He lays His hands on any available ordinary wrapping paper. Please ask God for the living water that can quench your thirst completely today like that Samaritan woman. Are you one of the sketching papers on earth today? I say a big congratulations to you. However, for you to remain relevant, you must always be available for God's use. If you are not, you will soon be replaced with ordinary wrapping papers. A word is enough for the wise.

The lyrics of this hymn below should be believers' anthem till they see Christ on the Golden Shore: 

LORD, SPEAK TO ME,  By Frances R. Havergal , 1872

1. Lord, speak to me that I may speak

    In living echoes of your tone.

    As you have sought, so let me seek

    Your erring children, lost and lone.

2. Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead

     The wand'ring and the wav'ring feet.

     Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed

     Your hungry ones with manna sweet.

3. Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach

    The precious truths which you impart.

    And wing my words that they may reach

    The hidden depths of many a heart.

4. Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,

    Until my very hearts o'erflows

    In kindling thought and glowing word,

    Your love to tell, your praise to show.

5. Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,

    Just as you will, and when, and where

    Until your blessed face I see,

    Your rest, your joy, your glory share.

May our search for food and worldly pleasure in the grocery store of this world not make God replace us with ordinary wrapping papers. We shall never become a relic in God's agenda in Jesus name, Amen. 

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

For more articles, please visit -

https://okanlawon.webnode.com

https:// okanlawontaiwo.blogspot.com

Instagram:@lawontaiwo

Twitter:@tammytaiwo