Offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

Romans 6:13

If you’ve been to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, one of the most impressive items at the back of the museum is a 771,000 pound ‘hunk’ of steel. They call it the Allegheny locomotive. Talk about potential energy! When that amazing 125-foot long machine was fired up, back in the day, it could pull 160 coal cars, each with a 60-ton load! Now imagine you’re driving by a field and on the other side standing and grazing are two horses. Perhaps not nearly as impressive, but when they’re properly harnessed to a wagon, it’s amazing what they too can haul and how productive they can be. Again, potential energy.

Now, if we look down towards the ground, most likely you’ll see two feet firmly planted to support your body. With a proper vision, some motivation and enough time, those feet can go to the kitchen sink, to the neighbor’s house, or to the ends of the earth to help as needed. They can carry a hopeful message of love and peace, distribute food, run to assist or walk quietly in the way of truth. Once again, in those feet we see potential energy.

Most likely, at the end of each of your arms is a hand. Together (or individually) these two can make things, write notes of encouragement, dial a number on the phone, hold a child, pat a back, give a high five to an achiever, and carry burdens. More potential energy.

In our mouths is a busy little organ made up of muscle. We call it a tongue. With love in our hearts and with Jesus’ power motivating it, the tongue has the ability to bless, sing praise, exhort to godliness, give encouragement to the depressed, and sympathize with the sorrowful. Once again, potential energy is there.

Let’s put our potential energy into action and use our bodies for God’s purposes. Let’s offer every part of ourselves to God as an instrument of righteousness.