Do You Have the Right Credentials?
Today’s Truth
“When they saw the courage of Peter and John, and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus,” (Acts 4:13, emphasis mine).
Friend to Friend
Do you ever feel like you just don’t have the right “stuff” to do great things for God? I know I’ve felt that way many times. And then God jerks a knot in my head with the truth. He has given me everything I need to do whatever He calls me to do. He’s given me the power of the Holy Spirit…just for starters.
Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life reminds us of some very unlikely candidates to do great things for God.
“Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive., Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zachaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid. That’s quite a group of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you too.”
I love this scenario. The religious leaders in Acts were listening to Peter and John preach. They were perplexed, astonished really. They wondered where Peter and John acquired such knowledge and wisdom. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John, and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus,” (Acts 4:13, emphasis mine).
Ah, they had been with Jesus. That explained everything.
We tend to look at folks who are talented or who have great resources and think, “If we could win that soul for the Lord, then think of all he could accomplish for the kingdom.” How silly. As if God needs our meager resources to accomplish anything.
When you say “yes” to God, despite your inabilities, then you become a living, breathing, walking display of His glory as you live and move and have your being in Him. “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
You are always one step of obedience away from the next great adventure and moments of sudden glory that follow. Are you willing to abandon that which makes you comfortable to embrace that which makes you fulfilled? Are you ready for the fancy footwork of faith?
As you consider joining Jesus on the dance floor of obedience, remember this: The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it,” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Don’t worry that you don’t know all the right moves. He does. You simply need to follow His lead. In Him we live and move and have our being…the dance of obedience is breathtakingly beautiful.
Let’s Pray
Dear Father, forgive me for focusing on my inabilities rather than Your abilities. I don’t want to sit and watch others in their divine dance of obedience. I want to join You on the dance floor and follow Your lead!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Did you connect the title of this devotion to the body of the devotion?
If you know Jesus as Savior and Lord, then you do have the right credentials!
I want you to write Today’s Truth on an index card and memorize it.
Ponder this: When they saw the courage of your name and realized that she was an unschooled, ordinary woman, they were astonished and they took note that she had been with Jesus.”
If you want to take the challenge and memorize this verse with me today, click over to my blog page (www.sharonjaynes.com) and leave a comment: “I’m memorizing it with you!”
More from the Girlfriends
In my new book, A Sudden Glory: God’s Lavish Response to Your Ache for Something More, I say that obedience is not what God wants FROM you; it is what He wants FOR you. Obedience is the door behind which the abundant life is stored. If you want to learn about how to experience God’s presence in all of life and live in unparallel intimacy with Him, then this book will help you get there. It is only a click away.
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Girlfriends in God
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Originally published Monday, 18 March 2013.
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