SIMPLE MEN AND A SOVEREIGN GOD

July 07, 2020

It is one of the wonders of the world. One of the most unexplainable things in human history. In fact, if you divorce God from the story, it is impossible to explain.

God takes simple men and women and uses them to change history.

Look at a young girl named Esther and her uncle and guardian, Mordecai. Esther was a slave who became the queen of the largest government in the known world.

And we read of Mordecai, who through a sovereign plan of God was "second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and the one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation" (Esther 10:3)

FOOLISH THINGS

The Apostle Paul, who was himself such an anomaly, would later remind us under the inspiration of the Spirit why God operates this way.

"For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

God is unlimited in His ability to change the world through simple men. He raises up a Noah to save the world, an imprisoned Joseph to save the entire world; a young shepherd named David to build the greatest empire in history ... and on and on.

PROFOUND QUESTIONS

Such glorious irony raises a few questions that must be continually answered.

1. What is it in my small life that I think God cannot handle?

2. Do I realize that my simple life, and the life of the humblest person I know, can be mightily used by God?

3. If God is using me in some measure, am I boasting ONLY in Him?

Never underestimate God. He uses who He chooses to accomplish His work. And happy are those who cooperate fully with Him.

Father, thank You for confounding the world’s way. Thank you for using humble men and women throughout history to accomplish Your work. Never let me underestimate You. You can change anything … and You can use anyone You desire to accomplish astounding work.

Also in Graceful Truth

HOW TO BECOME AN UNUSABLE MAN

July 12, 2024

I doubt the title above is very enticing. Nobody wants their life to be shipwrecked. But it happens.

Continue Reading

MAKING MUCH OF GOD

July 10, 2024

It’s easy to make much of myself. To think of myself—what I want or think I need, what I feel others think about me, my aches and pains and discomforts, how it’s going with me, and how it could be better—I could go on for hours. Without hardly any effort, I can spend my day consumed with thoughts of little else.

Continue Reading

WHAT ARE YOU ACQUIRING?

July 09, 2024

But the man who hides God’s Word in his heart and builds it into his soul with faithful obedience gains the great treasure. He becomes a wise man who knows God and can be greatly used by God to help others.

Continue Reading