God Doesn’t Always Call the Equipped But He Will Always Equip the Called

It’s been 10 years, but I can still remember the last conversation I had with my father. It was a Saturday, the day before he passed away. As a pastor he always thought one of his sons would follow in his footsteps and for some reason he seemed to think it would be me.

Before he hung up he ended our conversation as he always did with the question: “When are you going to preach your trial sermon?”

And true to form I answered him as I always did: “You know I have fractured entirely too many commandments to stand in somebody’s pulpit.”

He would always laugh and say then you will fit right in with His list of imperfect people he has used to do His work.

Some say my paper is my pulpit and “A View From A Pew” is my weekly sermon.

Throughout the Bible there are numerous examples of how God used imperfect people for the sake of his mission to bring hope to the world. He didn’t call the popular, the rich or the successful to further his ministry, but rather, the poor, the broken and the faithful.

Here is a list of “imperfect heroes” of the Bible.

• Elijah – Was suicidal.
• Joseph – Was abused.
• Job – Went bankrupt.
• Moses – Had a stuttering problem.
• Gideon – Was afraid.
• Samson – Was a womanizer.
• Rahab – Was a prostitute.
• Samaritan Woman – Divorced.
• Noah – Was a Drunk.
• Jeremiah – Was young.
• Jacob – Was a cheater.
• David – Was a murderer.
• Jonah – Ran from God.
• Naomi – Was a widow.
• Peter – Denied Christ three times.
• Martha – Worried about everything.
• Zacchaeus – Was small and money hungry.
• The Disciples – Fell asleep while praying.
• Paul – Was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians before becoming one.
• Abraham -Was old. Isaac was a daydreamer.
• Leah - Was ugly.

A pastor was asked why so many of the heroes of the Bible had serious flaws? His response: “That’s all God had to work with. All the perfect people are in heaven.”

When you think about it the talent pool on earth has always been pretty thin when it comes to moral perfection.

I get it though If God chose only well-rounded people with no character flaws, some of the credit would inevitably go to the people and not to the Lord. By choosing flawed people with a bad past, a shaky present, and an uncertain future, God alone gets the glory when they accomplish amazing things by His power.

If you ever feel like you aren’t worthy enough to be used by God, let alone loved by Him, just remember that Jesus used a bunch of flawed people to share Hope to a flawed and broken world.

In God, we find renewal, mending, and purpose. Jesus didn’t call the equipped, He equipped the called. And no matter what you’ve been through in life, remember that the same power that conquered the grave lives within you.

You are worthy of life. You are worthy of God's love. You are worthy of joy. You are worthy of a fulfilling purpose that will take you places you never imagined reaching.