“God uses the unlikely.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel from his book, Dare to Drop the Pose (p. 153). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

He does, he does.  And that is so encouraging, isn’t it?

Craig asks, “So what have others told you that you can’t do? Be an effective teacher? Start a business? Raise great kids? Lead an organization? Get out of debt? Write a book? Lead a Bible study?

“God uses the unlikely.  He may do through you what others say can’t be done. He loves to use people who others don’t believe are ready. God has put more in you than those around you can see. And He looks past what the world looks for. God isn’t searching for great looks, a full head of hair, the perfect figure, or the smartest or funniest person.

“God is looking at what He put in you: quiet faith, untapped courage, dormant gifts. Others look at the outside. God sees His perfect work on the inside.”

Craig goes on, “One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Acts 4:13. Peter and John had been boldly preaching about Christ. Some of the legalistic, overly religious leaders had them arrested and questioned. Luke recorded their story: ‘When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus’ (emphasis mine).

“These were normal guys—just like you, just like me. In fact, the Greek word for ‘ordinary’ is the word idiotes (pronounced id-ee-AH-tace). It means ‘unskilled,’ and from it we get our word ‘idiot.’ These guys were like me—idiots! Not only were they idiotes, but they were also unschooled. I imagine they battled fears of not knowing enough. They probably felt intimidated in front of crowds. But …

“These men had been with Jesus … and that made them extraordinary.

“Don’t listen to what anyone else says about you. Don’t listen to the recorded tapes of negative words that your mind so easily accesses. Don’t listen exclusively to either your fans or your critics. Instead, think about your whole life: your relationships, your finances, your ministry, your work, your witness, your influence. Spend time with Jesus, and let Him turn you from an ordinary person into an extraordinary disciple.

“What is God calling you to do? ‘With Him,’ you can do it.”

So, will you spend time with Jesus and find what he thinks about?  You do realize that you mattered so much to him that he died for you?

Yes, yes!