1 Corinthians 1:27-30 – But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
THEME OF THE DAY: YES, EVEN US. I have this pasted in my Bible for two reasons. First, I need to remind myself the type of Christians, and the only type of Christians, God uses to build His kingdom and influence people for His Son. The second reason is because of the ease I listen to the devil and my conscience telling me, “you are worthless, you cannot be used, look at your many failings and sins.” The voices of condemnation are too often loud and if I, or I should say, “we”, don’t immediately quiet them with truth we will listen to them, and believe them. Nothing will spiritually cripple us more than to entertain thoughts contrary to the scriptural truth of our position in Christ based on what He has done for us, not how we live the Christian life. What we allow our hearts and minds to listen to about ourselves will determine what our hearts and minds believe about ourselves. We must listen to God’s truth, not ourselves or the devil’s lies. And belief always leads to conduct.
So, what is this thing I have in my Bible to help keep me looking unto Jesus and be encouraged to serve Him instead of looking at myself and being discouraged to serve Him? Before I share, here is some history. It was written in the 19th century by a Presbyterian minister named J.R. Miller. He was one of the most prolific devotional writers of his time. His devotional on the Gospels titled “Come Ye Apart” is available and is simply pure gold. And what he said below is equally a treasure. Perhaps it might find its way in your Bible or on your refrigerator to encourage you when the devil and your flesh want to discourage you. Here it is . . .
“Christ is building His kingdom with earth’s broken things. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms; but God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling earth’s broken lives, and there is not a bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain and sorrow and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth’s saddest failure up to heaven’s glory.” (J. R. Miller).
The church, due to the influence of the world, often establishes qualifications for serving King Jesus contrary to today’s scripture and Miller’s words. God uses the foolish, worthless, unqualified and incapable to build His kingdom. He uses broken lives, not those who think they have it together, to send forth the sweet fragrance of His Son, the Lord Jesus. And yes, that includes us, even us. Even you. Even me. There are only three qualifications to become a vehicle of God’s grace and love to a hurting world; the realization of our inability, the willingness to be used, and the making of ourselves available. May the Lord show us the first, mold our hearts to the second, and move our wills to the third.
PRAYER: “Lord, thank You for Your amazing grace that even uses me for Your Kingdom.”
QUOTE: “The only qualified servant of the Lord is the one who knows they are not”