Acts 4:13 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.

It is almost amusing that, down through the ages, people are so amazed that God can and does use ordinary people. I say, almost, because it is also rather sad. It shows how much we focus on the container rather than the contents. Paul nailed it when he talked about treasure in earthen vessels. (2 Corinthians 4:7) God is more than capable of using anyone, as He demonstrated with Balaam’s donkey. (Numbers 22:21-33) What He needs is people who are yielded to Him. In English, there is a helpful play on words with “ability” and “availability.” Ability is a gift from God in the first place; all we have to offer is availability. I forget who it was who said, “The world has yet to see what God can accomplish through someone who is totally committed to Him.” Actually, I think there have been many people down through the centuries who have been as committed to God as possible, but that still makes a valid point. We are quick to exclude ourselves and others from full availability to God on the basis of all sorts of things. In this verse, it was the apostles’ lack of education and credentials that so amazed the members of the Sanhedrin. They were forced to acknowledge the decisive factor, that the apostles had been with Jesus. The more time we spend with Jesus, not just in specific times of worship or devotions but in continuous fellowship through awareness of His presence, the more available we will be to Him, for Him to accomplish in and through us things that are totally impossible to us on our own.

This is a message I have sought to get through to the believers for years, yet they seem to have great difficulty receiving it. Actually, I have plenty of room to grow in this area myself! I am not to give up, but rather trust that God is no more limited by the past than He is by my weakness and ignorance. I’ve got to remember, more consistently and more fully, that it’s not about us, but about Him. Actually, that’s true only in one sense, because from another perspective, God created us to be objects of His love, going so far as to send His Son to take the penalty for our sin, so we are enormously important to Him. The point is not to think less of ourselves, but more of Him. When we have an accurate revelation of God, self image becomes largely irrelevant.

Father, thank You for that last point. I deal so often with people who are crippled by their self images, and I have put a lot of effort into trying to correct that. What I should be doing is trying to help them see You more and better. I have been doing that, but not enough. Thank You that You take us where we are and as we are and work with us and in us and through us. Help me remember that fully myself even as I communicate it to others, so that all of Your purposes may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!