In my lessons learned list of 2017 (which is growing as I reflect more on the year), I was reassured of this: God uses PEOPLE.
And that sentence alone could either be a “duh” sentence or a mind-blowing one. But I don’t mean that God uses people just to say that we should be aware and live our lives accordingly (which is true), but I mean that God uses HUMANS: human beings in all their mistakes and flaws.
This stuck out to me because this past year I noticed my humanity more than ever. At both my best and worst moments there was a constant realization that I am human. But, in my worst moments, I felt condemned and hopeless. How can God use me to do anything significant or anything day to day if I am failing, fearful, doubtful, or lacking in love? How can God use me if I’m confused or I’m still figuring myself out?
Seeing your flaws brings out some crazy emotions and thoughts that can be overwhelming.
But even a Bible GREAT like Paul was HUMAN. And even his characteristics and mistakes (HUMANITY) are revealed in the Bible.
Paul has sharp disagreements with a friend, sharp enough to split ways (Acts 15:36-41). Paul’s reason for casting a demon out of a girl in one point in his journey was because he had “become greatly annoyed” (Acts 16: 16-24).
Yet, Paul is a Bible GREAT. His life and legacy helped to shape and lead Christians. God used Paul, a HUMAN saved by grace through faith determined to live for God, despite His mistakes and even DURING his mistakes.
God used a human. And he does the same today.
When we seek to live by the Spirit, God uses us HUMANS, and after seeing my humanity unmasked, I’m forever grateful.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-5)
God Uses People
