God Doesn’t Call the Qualified ~ He Qualifies the Call 10-4-24
I hope that is understood to those who go out on their own in ministry and think they are above others. The truth is, many times God calls those who don’t have formal education; their background would prevent them from being qualified in the world’s system.
God calls the ordinary to do extraordinary things. When Jesus called His disciples, they were ordinary men and their occupation was that of common laborers.
Examples- Peter was a fisherman who had no formal education, yet the Lord used him in such miraculous ways that it was said by some that he and some other apostles turned the world upside down. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too (Acts 17:6).
Peter’s sermon - And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation. Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them (Acts 2:40-41).
Another time he preached; five-thousand souls were saved. So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47).
God used Peter and John to heal a lame man. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So, he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So, he, leaping up, stood, and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (Acts 3:2-10).
Who qualified Peter? God did! From the human perspective Peter did not have the credentials to be qualified. Yet God used this ordinary fisherman that may have seemed to some as a nobody. We know that everybody is somebody when it comes to God.
My personal example: From the world’s point of view, I was not qualified, but the world did not call me, God did. I grew up during the segregation era, and I didn’t fit in with some of the ‘quote on quote’ middle or upper class. This caused me to feel inferior to others. But God had a plan for me; He called me to serve in various capacities to edify others and to glorify Him.
To be honest, I am grateful that my qualifications were suitable to the world’s standards. Remember this, never compete with others (like “keeping up with the Jones”), or compare yourselves to others. You are who God created you to be I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well (Psalm 139:14).
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). What does it mean to walk in the good works? We are to revere God to the highest by walking in our particular call that He purpose for us.
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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