Qualified

Have you ever stopped to think about the people God has chosen to use for His glory? All throughout the Bible we read story after story of God choosing the unlikely people to carry out His will. When I look at the people I know personally who are doing amazing things for God, they too have "unqualified" backgrounds. Have you ever felt God leading you to do or say something, but have felt you were not qualified enough to take action? Then that is EXACTLY why God wants to use you.

God always chooses to use those who are humble. God prefers the least likely person in the crowd. He chooses these people because it's by using these people that we know it is only by the power of God that things happen. To see an addict leave their drugs with no withdrawal symptoms or see an alcoholic walk away from alcohol without any desire for another drink can only be attributed to the power of God. For someone who has been wounded in relationships to be able to believe love still exists can only happen because God's love has been poured into them.

If you doubt the power of God to transform a life, examine the life of Saul/Paul. Saul was one of the biggest persecutors of Christians. His job was to seek them out, humiliate, and kill them. He was the man behind the death of Stephen, the first martyr for Christ. When you think of the most evil person you know, they probably don't compare to Saul. However, on the road one day while traveling Saul encountered Jesus. Imagine his shock as he heard the voice of Christ speaking to him! He was traveling in order to persecute more Christians and instead encountered Christ himself.

"As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank." Acts 9:3-9

Later in verses 20-22 we read:
"Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests? But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ."


If the same man who was responsible for the murder of Christian could have ONE encounter with Christ and begin preaching, then how can we possibly say we are not qualified? If anything, we need to confound those who know us in the same way Saul confounded the Jews. Those who have known us "before" will come to know Jesus by our living testimony. If you have encountered Jesus, then He wants to use YOU. What is stopping you?