2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Have you ever noticed how God’s specialty is using the most unlikely of people to accomplish the greatest of things?
This past summer, my best friend since childhood asked me if I wanted to do a Bible study with her. Always being up for a good Bible study…and any excuse to meet up with my dear friend every few weeks, I was all in.
I was recently reflecting on a discussion we had during the course of our Bible study about a pattern that clearly emerges throughout the Bible – the pattern of how God repeatedly uses people who were ordinary, sinful, or straight up outcasts to accomplish amazing assignments.
It seems that God derives special pleasure from using the least likely of characters to carry out His greatest purposes. When you think about it, this makes complete sense as God’s glory can best be seen when we and those around us understand our limitations and His unfathomable strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 says it best, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Think with me for a minute about a few Biblical examples of how God used the least of mankind to accomplish extraordinary things:
Rahab was a prostitute who decided to place her faith in the God of Israel. God then used her to help the Israelites capture Jericho – she later became a part of the lineage of Jesus!
Gideon was an insignificant man from the humble tribe of Manasseh and yet God used him to defeat the Midianite army with only 300 men. He eventually became a Judge of the nation of Israel.
David was a young, seemingly insignificant shepherd boy who went on to slay Goliath, rule as King of Israel, and had a significant role in the lineage of Jesus.
The Disciples were a rag tag group of ordinary men and yet God used them to share His love with others and ultimately change the course of history.
The Apostle Paul, who referred to himself in 1 Timothy 1:15 as the worst of all sinners, went on to proclaim the gospel across the ancient world and to write nearly half of the books in the New Testament!
It is absolutely incredible how God uses the least of us to accomplish His plans for His glory!
How about you? Have you ever felt rather ordinary, or insignificant, like one of the least? …If so, that is great! You may be just the person God is looking for to use in a powerful way. If you continually seek God in humility and take steps of faith when He asks, you just never know how He might choose to use you for His glory!
Here’s to being among the least!
