Ever wondered why God never used the people who were "perfect" or why He never used the "perfect" things to perform His wonders? I have wondered why and how God would manage to use a thief/a prostitute/ a drunkard/ a persecutor etc....or even a person like me?
This has always fascinated me!
But it's amazing that too many times I've found myself wishing to be perfect in every way....comparing myself to others...
"If only my voice was like that.."
or
"If only I could speak like so and so.."
or
"If only I had a life like that.."
or
"If only I could have a body like that../a smile like that../a life like that../a family like that.."
And saying all these things made me realize that I am so imperfect....when I get this part "kind-of-perfetct"....anot
her thing seems to be imperfect.
Then one day...I was reading my Bible...and I thought to myself..."Give me one perfect person (besides Jesus) that God used throughout the history of humankind..."
And the answer is, I haven't found that person...
I've seen phrases like so and so "...did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.." or "...The Lord was with him..." or so and so "feared God.."
But when you read their stories, you find them to be simple people who sometimes did stupid things (just like me). These people were not always the most beautiful/most handsome or the best at doing good....but still, God used them.
- When God wanted to destroy the world with the flood, He chose Noah...a very nice guy who loved God....but read on...and you'll find him drunk and naked... - that drunkard (Gen. 9:21)
- When God wanted to pass on Abraham's blessing...Jacob (aka Israel) gets the blessing....by stealing it from his brother...But still, God lets him have it....and as you read on, God was with Jacob...he was favored by God at all times... - that cheater. (Gen. 27:21-29)
- When God wanted to rescue His precious people from slavery in Egypt...guess who was chosen?...Moses. Yes, the same Moses who had run away from Egypt because he had killed an Egyptian... - that murderer (Ex.3)
- When God wanted His people to enter into Jericho...and the spies were in danger...guess who He used for the rescue? Rahab...a woman known for giving her body for money.... - that prostitute. (Josh. 2:8-24)
The list is endless...
It goes down to the New Testament.
-Talk about the great apostle Paul...formerly known as persecutor of the church....I don't wanna go there. (Acts 9:1-2)
-Peter...who plainly and publicly disowned Jesus. Ouch! (John18: 15-18; 25-27)
Maybe I should add myself to the list...I may not have killed anybody, or stolen that much, or lied that much or even sold my body to strangers..but I sure am imperfect in many many ways...
Instead of biting myself up for being imperfect, I should just let God have His way in me. In all these individuals whom God used despite the weaknesses and imperfections, I find one common thread: OBEDIENCE...obedience driven by LOVE (childlike LOVE) Love that comes with no self-righteousness.
These people were so imperfect, I wouldn't choose any of them for anything if I were God. "BUT GOD chose the weak things of the world to shame the wise." (1Cor.1:27-28)
So, the next time you see an imperfection in you...don't beat yourself up...yes it's good to desire to be better...and it should be done....but I want you to look at your imperfections in a different way. See them as an opportunity for God to work on you/in you/through you...so He can show off His UNCONDITIONAL love that goes way past your imperfections and weaknesses.
As if using imperfect people wasn't enough...God even used lifeless objects and non-human things to show off His power.
-He used a staff to show off His power before the great Pharaoh in Egypt. What is a staff in a royal palace...couldn't He have used something fancier? (Ex.7:12)
-He used plates of stone to write His law for His people...what? Stone for God's ultimate way of life...God's own law on mere stone..? (Ex. 34:1)
- He used the bronze snake (aka toy snake) to save His people from dying from His anger. Tell me about it...a toy snake...what is that? But it is recorded in the Bible...that snake indeed saved many lives...it didn't do much, it just hung there, but because GOD had chosen it...it did wonders. (Num. 21:8)
-Jesus Himself used His own spit to open eyes (John 9:6). He used water to produce wine (John 2:1-11). He used a donkey (not even a horse) to go to Jerusalem to die for us (Matt. 21: 1-11). To finish off His use of things that seem useless...He made Himself the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity...with a few nails and a rugged cross. (mark 15:25)
So, the next time you feel imperfect...remember that even though we should change for the better, imperfection is an opportunity for God to use you.
Still have flaws? While you're on your way to being better...God still wants to use you along the way. Are you available or you're too sucked in your "imperfections"?
No comments:
Post a Comment