Unqualified

Imagine what it would have been like to be Simon and Andrew, two ordinary fishermen, on that day when seemingly out of nowhere a teacher called out, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Since these men were working as skilled laborers it is clear that they did not make the cut of the brightest, most promising Jewish students. In other words, they were men who clearly did not make the deans list. In fact, the most promising boys and young men of their day became apprentices and disciples of other rabbis. These men, however, were ordinary workers. Their own society had deemed them as non-exceptional. Even so, Jesus saw something in them. He didn’t look for the brightest, most promising men to be his first disciples. Jesus selected ordinary men to carry out one of the greatest assignments the world has ever seen! This is not the first case where God selected ordinary people to carry out extraordinary tasks. All over Scripture we see God calling unlikely individuals to carry out His mission in this world.

What does this mean for you and me? We can rest assured that God is not looking for perfect people to carry out His plans in this world. He is searching for willing people, those who will take a step of faith and trust in His leading and in His promises. He is looking for humble and dependant people, those who know they can do nothing apart from Christ. God is also looking for people of faith, those who trust God in all circumstances no matter how bleak and daunting a difficult situation appears.

Perhaps God has been calling you to partner with Him in accomplishing His purposes, yet you have resisted because you have not felt prepared, qualified, or up to the task. I know I’ve been there in my own faith. May you find great comfort knowing that God is not looking for perfect people. And may you also discover significant encouragement to step out in faith, to trust God, and to allow His glory to be evident in and through your life! God uses flawed people in order that His glory and power might be displayed, so that all great things accomplished can be accredited to God Himself and not any one person! May it be so in each of our lives.