ORDINARY PEOPLE
At the beginning of the year, I started reading a series of books called “Extraordinary Women of the Bible.” So far, I have read the following books: Highly Favored (Mary, Mother of Jesus), A Harvest of Grace (Ruth and Naomi), and Sins as Scarlet (Rahab, the Harlot). I am currently reading “At His Feet (Mary Magdalene’s story). What is so amazing is how God took these ordinary women and used them for His glory.
Throughout the Bible, it is filled with stories about ordinary people who God used to do His work. God makes heroes out of the unlikely. For example, Moses who was slow in speech, God used him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Rahab, who worked as a prostitute, assisted two Israelite spies in escaping from the city wall of Jericho. David committed adultery, yet God chose Him to be King over Israel and used him to create a lineage from which Jesus was born. Peter denied Jesus three times, yet he was told: “On this rock, I will build my church.” Paul (formerly known as Saul) persecuted Christians; however, after his conversion, Paul gave his life to the mission of building up the church for the kingdom of God. If God can restore such people and use them for His glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom, then God can use us despite our faults.
Today, God continues to use those rejected by society, the outcasts, the homeless, and the unloved, to show us that those are the people He seeks to do His work on earth and those who would enter into His kingdom. None of us is extraordinary, but our God is. Despite our brokenness and misfits, God will still use ordinary people like you and me for His glory.
I Timothy 1:12-17 NIV: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus, might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” Amen.
In the scripture, it reminds us that God has a purpose and plan for our lives and that God can use anyone. God chooses people who can be changed by His love, and then He sends them out to communicate that His acceptance is available to anyone – even those whose lives are marked by failure.
Faith Step: What kind of person does God want us to be? God wants us to be someone who strives to model His character and approach in all situations of life, who strives to do their best to overcome their faults and sin, and who cares for others. If we truly love God, then we will learn to love others.
Prayer:
Thank you O God for using ordinary people like us to do your work on earth. O God, none of us deserves salvation. None of us deserves to go to Heaven. O God you show us grace even when we did not deserve it. Father, thank you for never leaving us, thank you that you are still working in and through our lives on a daily basis. We are so thankful for the opportunity to praise you. Remind us, O God, that there are no ordinary people but that every person is an image bearer of the Most High God. Amen!
Written by Donnis Prass
Throughout the Bible, it is filled with stories about ordinary people who God used to do His work. God makes heroes out of the unlikely. For example, Moses who was slow in speech, God used him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Rahab, who worked as a prostitute, assisted two Israelite spies in escaping from the city wall of Jericho. David committed adultery, yet God chose Him to be King over Israel and used him to create a lineage from which Jesus was born. Peter denied Jesus three times, yet he was told: “On this rock, I will build my church.” Paul (formerly known as Saul) persecuted Christians; however, after his conversion, Paul gave his life to the mission of building up the church for the kingdom of God. If God can restore such people and use them for His glory and the furtherance of His Kingdom, then God can use us despite our faults.
Today, God continues to use those rejected by society, the outcasts, the homeless, and the unloved, to show us that those are the people He seeks to do His work on earth and those who would enter into His kingdom. None of us is extraordinary, but our God is. Despite our brokenness and misfits, God will still use ordinary people like you and me for His glory.
I Timothy 1:12-17 NIV: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. Even though I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus, might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.” Amen.
In the scripture, it reminds us that God has a purpose and plan for our lives and that God can use anyone. God chooses people who can be changed by His love, and then He sends them out to communicate that His acceptance is available to anyone – even those whose lives are marked by failure.
Faith Step: What kind of person does God want us to be? God wants us to be someone who strives to model His character and approach in all situations of life, who strives to do their best to overcome their faults and sin, and who cares for others. If we truly love God, then we will learn to love others.
Prayer:
Thank you O God for using ordinary people like us to do your work on earth. O God, none of us deserves salvation. None of us deserves to go to Heaven. O God you show us grace even when we did not deserve it. Father, thank you for never leaving us, thank you that you are still working in and through our lives on a daily basis. We are so thankful for the opportunity to praise you. Remind us, O God, that there are no ordinary people but that every person is an image bearer of the Most High God. Amen!
Written by Donnis Prass
Posted in Mid-Week Devotional
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