I Timothy 1:12-13
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for He that counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Paul makes it very clear that the source of his calling is Christ Jesus himself. It’s not his abilities or qualifications.
Paul was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence- killing Christians” and yet Jesus not only gave him mercy but also called him into ministry. His transformation teaches us that anyone can receive Christ and do tremendous works for Him.
You can also tell from our theme verse that Paul fully embraced Christ’s teaching that “… apart from me you can do nothing. Paul’s power came from Christ, not his own human ability.
John 15:5.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If perfection were a prerequisite for God’s calling, then none of us would qualify. God isn’t looking for perfection, He’s looking for a heart fully surrendered. Don’t strive for perfection, instead abide in Christ. The quest for perfection only kills progress as it breeds religion. It’s been said that ‘‘perfect is a veil of not doing”.
I say, submit your weaknesses/imperfections/needs to God, He is the perfect one. He has the power to make up for any weaknesses you have.
2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God uses the most unlikely people to reveal His glory. The bible speaks of countless people who would be regarded to as ‘‘unworthy’’.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says;
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
Moses- a wanted murderer, slow in speech, led the Israelites out of slavery, Gideon-hiding in fear from the Midianites, became a “Mighty Man of Valor”, Esther- a young Jewish orphan becomes Queen of Persia, Rahab- the prostitute becomes an ancestor of Jesus, and her act of faith pleased God, David- who committed adultery and murder, named a man after God’s heart and many more others.
Despite their personalities, what they had done, none of this stopped God from choosing them, nor loving them. These people were in no way perfect, nor did they become perfect after being called. They stumbled many times, just like you and I, but God still held onto them. Peter, even after being called, still rejected God. He denied Jesus not once but three times, yet God still chose him to be the rock in imagery of the church. If you think God chooses the perfect, then you are totally wrong. No matter what your past may look like, no matter what you may have done or still struggle with, still God chooses you.
John 15:16
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Our worth is in God. So many times, we think we are not worthy enough for God. ‘How can a God so perfect, so Holy, want someone like me?’ ‘What could He possibly do with me?’ But you know what? He thought you were valuable enough to die for. He has called you His son/daughter and found you precious, so worthy & perfect in Him. You are worthy not because of anything you have done, but because of who God is, LOVE.
Isaiah 43:1 & 4
1 “I have called you by name, you are mine”.
4 Since thou are precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore, will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
The myth believed by most Christians is that one must check all the boxes before God can use them and somehow not be human for them to do anything for God, and that’s a complete lie. God uses people on a journey. Each one of us reflects Him differently.
There’s a uniqueness that God has put on the inside of you to reflect Him & show forth His glory. Don’t let your personality, background, life experiences etc. become an (your) excuse for God not to use you. Allow Him through His Spirit & Word to mold you into perfection. When you slip & fall, get up and keep moving even with your limp, just don’t stop! He who begun a good work in you will perfect it to completion.
Prophetic Utterance:
Phillipians 3:13-14
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Guiding text:
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.