Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 1:25-27 (NIV)

 

Many great men and women of God throughout church history were deemed unfit or unusable by their peers and community due to prior sin, personal flaws, or physical obstacles, but everything changed for them when they experienced the transforming power of God's love and grace in their life.

Photina the Samaritan lady at the well and Zacchaeus the chief tax collector, both stood out as outstanding witnesses for Christ. Peter the deserting coward and Paul, the deadly persecutor of Christians, both rose to prominence as early church leaders.

Augustine of Hippo was a philanderer during his youth before becoming a renowned church theologian. John Wesley was an ordained clergyman who doubted his own salvation, but he eventually brought many to Christ. Sadhu Sundar Singh was suicidal before encountering with Jesus and became an undisputed Indian Christian missionary.

Smith Wigglesworth was a stutterer who rose from obscurity to become an exceptional healing evangelist. John Sung, who suffered from severe depression, went on to become a Chinese Christian revivalist and Bible teacher who fired up the faith of Chinese believers and churches in Mainland China and Southeast Asia. Gladys Aylward was thought unsuited for missionary service due to her lack of education, but she single-handedly rescued many lives in tough and challenging situations.

These clouds of witnesses are testimonies to God’s amazing grace and faithfulness towards those who place their trust in Him. If God can do great things through these people, He can do great things through you. The opportunity for service is limitless if you are ready to partner with God to reach the lost and broken.

The Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthians to eagerly seek greater gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31) in order to serve the Body of Christ with greater zeal and effectiveness. In the same manner, long for God’s supernatural increase in your heart and mind so that you can amazingly bless your generation and the next to come.