God Chooses the Lowly
A while back, I was reading through the prophets and was struck by how, throughout Scripture, God chose the lowliest people–the ones others would have looked at as insignificant–to be a voice or a leader for Him.
He chose Gideon, who was the “least in my family” (Judges 6:15). He chose Moses who was “slow of speech and of a slow tongue” (Exodus 4:10). He chose Peter, a poor fisherman who had a knack for putting his foot in his mouth.
First Corinthians 1:27 tells us that God chooses the foolish things (people?) to confound the wise. In Matthew 22:14, Jesus tells us that “many are called, but few are chosen.” Why is this?
If God only chose the powerful, the brilliant, or the exceptionally talented, it would be easy for those people to assume they were accomplishing everything in their own strength. They would most likely become puffed up. But when God chooses someone like you or like me, we realize that we are incapable of achieving anything apart from the grace of God. Matthew 5:3 sums it up well: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 9:24).
It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5).
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).
When we realize that it’s not about us but is, instead, all about Jesus and what He is able to do in and through us, that is when we can really be used of God. Let us be faithful to pray for humble hearts that will diligently serve Him all our days.
Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash
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