Our modern day culture puts a lot of stock in credentials. It makes sense in a workplace setting because whenever we hire someone for a job, we want to know they’re capable of doing the work. If we ask someone for advice, we want to know they’re familiar with the subject matter. The more titles, diplomas, and achievements a person has to their name, the more we’re inclined to trust them. Generally, this is a prudent attitude for approaching the world, but God has a way of turning our preconceptions upside-down, especially when we try to apply them to Him.
While ascertaining these various scholastic accomplishments are commendable and impressive in man’s eyes, to God they’re not as important. In fact, I Corinthians 1:27 (AMP) says, “But God has selected [for His purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty].
Believe it or not, God loves unqualified Christians and the Bible is filled with unlikely ordinary people God used to do extraordinary things. Look at Moses, a murderer and an outlaw who fled for his life to Midian where he became a lowly shepherd. Look at David, an adulterer who arranged for the murder of his lover’s husband, and disobeyed God’s direction. Look at Mary, a young woman with no experience beyond her own faith. Look at Peter, an outspoken and impulsive person who cut off a man’s ear and who had the chance to defend Jesus, but he chose to vehemently denied him 3 times. Look at Matthew, a despised tax collector and pariah (outcast) in his own community. Look at Paul, a zealot who was actively persecuting believers for their faith. Undoubtedly, God looked past all these people’s perceivable shortcomings, sins, and faults and saw great faith and trust in their hearts.
If this message speaks to you and you’ve been standing on the sidelines or sitting in the bleachers, I want you to know God wants to use you. God wants the world to know His great love for each of us. He wants all to know that salvation comes through His plan alone; not by any efforts on our part. So, if for whatever reason you feel unqualified or unworthy, you are the perfect candidate God is looking for because He is able take one ordinary and unqualified believer and use him or her to extraordinarily change the world.
4GIVEN 