God Calls
Certainly, it is improbable to fathom how deep, how high, how wide, or to what lengths the love of God towards man can be. Within my inability to grasp the dimensions of God’s love, there is one thing that reveals the depth of God’s love for man. This is often portrayed in how He calls the unqualified and shows His grace and power through them. This has never ceased to amaze me.
God looks beyond our immediate struggles and more than that He lavishes His love, favor, and grace on those who appear unqualified according to the world’s standards. He saves them from deadly traps and leads them in spiritual battles when need be. God indeed, sees to their well-being. He blesses their witness and satisfies them with peace. So is the life of a man or woman whom God qualifies. This includes you.
Calling the unqualified is one of God’s specialties. Consider Joseph, David, Solomon, Esther, and Ruth. These were people who did not qualify per the standards of their time, but God found and used them. Consider me. Consider you.
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)
Note this! ‘God chose’ means --He intentionally selected us being aware of our weakness and incompetence. The thing is He makes what was useless useful, what was fruitless fruitful, what was weak strong, and the seemingly impossible, possible.
God calls the unqualified
1. Peter
The Apostle Peter, aka Simon (Matthew 10:2), aka Cephas (John 1:42). He started well, just as many believers do today, confident, convinced, committed, and charismatically charged in Christ.
A man who by revelation proclaimed the identity of Jesus. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16 KJV). I’m talking about a man who walked on water (Matthew 14:28-29) and picked a coin from the mouth of a fish at Jesus’ command (Matthew 17:27).
An unschooled fisherman as Peter was, his servant-leader qualities were evident in how he feared God and carried himself. In Jesus’ own words, He said: “…thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 KJV).
Along the way, Peter denied the Lord. Not once, not twice, but three times before the break of dawn (Matthew 26:69-75). That was a breaking moment for the man who had walked with Jesus.
Again, he left the work of the ministry to pursue his old profession (fishing). Surprisingly, immediately he said, “brothers I go a fishing”, and the disciples joined him. Sadly, they caught nothing (John 21:3).
Let me break down a mystery to you. Don’t quit God’s work thinking you’re doing yourself any good because what you are doing is shuttering the potentials of many under your care or others who look up to you.
The man, Peter considered himself unqualified to do God’s work. Thanks be to God that Peter did not hang himself to death as Judas did. Rather he made good use of the opportunity given to him when Jesus reinstated him.
In John 21: 15-23, Jesus reinstates Peter and gives him a threefold ministerial assignment (i.e. feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep) after questioning Peter’s love for Him. In the latter part of Peter’s life, we see “a new Peter”. The Lord filled him with the Holy Spirit, empowered him, and made him a bold person. What do you see here?
Peter did not take this opportunity for granted at all. He served in love, without fear, and through his work, many souls were saved. I know you are familiar with his sermon that turned the heart of 3000 people to Christ at a meeting in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14-41).
God was with Peter, and he did many signs and wonders whiles serving in his time. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote 1 Peter and 2 Peter which were canonized as part of the 66 books of the Bible.
2. Paul
Amazingly, the story of Peter shares many similarities with that of Apostle Paul (aka Saul, Acts 13:9). I cannot talk about people whom God qualified without mentioning Apostle Paul.
Once he persecuted believers with his might and the law backing him (Acts 9:4-9). He vehemently resisted the gospel, but God chose him and equipped him as a minister to the Gentiles.
Consider how God is able to give a man who was persecuting his people an invitation into His service. Indeed, his ways are beyond comprehension.
Paul made every moment and breath count as far as spreading the gospel and doing the work of God were concerned. Having this understanding that he has been privileged with such a great opportunity, Paul worked hard. At a point, he said,
“…but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Seeing that an opportunity has been granted him, he worked, suffered persecution, and went through numerous challenges on his travels yet he kept his eyes on the prize and the reason of his calling.
The Apostle Paul in his time traveled to every part of Asia with the Word. This, my friend is God using a man who was considered unqualified in the eyes of men.
Of the 66 books that make the Bible, the Apostle Paul contributed to writing 13 of them. The man who at a time was considered unqualified to be a disciple was called, qualified, and equipped by God to plant churches across nations in his time and to write almost 50% of the New Testament.
“And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory” Romans 8:30 (NLT)
Show me a situation that makes a man unqualified, and I will introduce you to a God who qualifies the unqualified. Beloved, in spite of human shortcomings, you and I have this same opportunity as Peter and Paul every day we wake up from our beds. It is my prayer that we don’t take it for granted but serve God, live for God, and draw others to Christ.
Jesus Calls Us
Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
of our life's wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth,
saying, "Christian, follow me!"
Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world's golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, "Christian, love me more!
In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still, he calls, in cares and pleasures,
"Christian, love me more than these!"
Jesus calls us! By thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear thy call,
give our hearts to thine obedience,
serve and love thee best of all.
