Imperfect (Obedient & Willing)

One thing that has always stood out to me is how God chooses the unlikeliest of people to accomplish His plans and will. If you’ve read any scripture, there’s a good chance you’ve seen examples of this. God uses those who society would never use. God has a knack for choosing the lowest of people. He chooses simple, uneducated people. He chooses those who have sinned greatly and fallen short. As evident in scripture, your past doesn’t stop God’s calling on your life! Regardless of your past, you have a future. What made these ordinary people in scripture different than everyone else? They sinned and did plenty of wrong yet God still used them. Why? God cares more about your obedience to Him and willingness to follow His will than anything else.

In scripture, there are many stories that show God choosing imperfect people to accomplish His will. Let’s look at a few!

Abraham was old - In fact, Abraham grew up as a pagan! His dad and him served “other gods.” (Josh 24:2) One day in his later years, God revealed Himself to Abraham and called him to leave his father and family. Scripture says that “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Heb 11:8) // Why did God call Abraham? He was obedient and willing. He obeyed without knowing where he was going. Due to his obedience, Abraham became the “father of many nations.” (Gen. 17:4)

Moses had a speech impediment - In Exodus 3, we see God call Moses to be the deliverer of His people. This is huge even though Moses is very reluctant at first. In Exodus 4, God tells Moses that He will give him powerful signs to help deliver His people. Even after God’s power was on full display, Moses said to God, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” (Ex. 4:10) Moses doubts himself. He doubts if the people will believe that God called him. Yet even through this, Moses (with the help of Aaron / Ex. 4:14-16) was obedient to God. In the face of adversity, Moses obeyed what God had called him to do. Moses was nothing special by himself, but with God, he changed the world. Because of Moses, Israel was able to enter the promised land.

Peter the Fisherman - Peter was enthusiastic, strong-willed, impulsive, and, at times, brash. But for all his strengths, Peter had several failings in his life. It amazes me how Jesus called Peter by the name Peter before his name was Peter! When Jesus first called Peter, his name was Simon. This shows that Jesus sees us as He intends us to be! How glorious! The rough and reckless fisherman was, in Jesus’ eyes, a firm and faithful rock. To the world, Peter was doing well. Because of his character, Peter was a natural-born leader. For the most part, he was a successful fisherman. When Jesus called Peter to follow Him, Peter immediately left everything and did (Luke 5:11) because He realized that Christ was infinitely worth more than the world. Even though Peter was brash and even wild at times (John 18:10), Jesus continued to use him because he was obedient and willing. Because of Peter, the Gospel began advancing to the rest of the world.

Paul Murdered Jesus’ Followers – Of all people in scripture, the life of Paul exemplifies the mercy and redemptive nature of God. Before Paul became Paul, he was Saul. He was a wicked man, known specifically in Jerusalem for his harsh persecution towards Jesus’ followers (Acts 9:1) That was until he encountered Jesus. Everything changes when we encounter Jesus. On a road to Damascus, Jesus stopped Saul in his tracks with a bright light. It blinded him. As instructed by Jesus, Saul continued to Damascus to make contact with a man named Ananias. Ananias was skeptical at first due to Saul’s evil history but the Lord told Ananias that Saul was a “chosen instrument” to carry His name before the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15) Saul was given his sight back, baptized, and ended up followed Jesus for the rest of His days. After this miraculous act of God, Saul became Paul. The same man that murdered followers of Jesus became one of Jesus’ greatest followers. Be obedient and willing! God will do incredible things through you.

These men weren’t anything special. They weren’t men in charge or well educated. They were obedient and willing. Scripture says that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9) // God is looking for people that are obedient and willing! He doesn’t care about your past. He doesn’t care about your mistakes. He cares about how you’ll respond when he calls you.

I pray this encourages you. There are many who think they are to sinful to have hope. You aren’t. God takes the sinful and makes them mighty warriors for His Kingdom.