God Calls All Kinds

Hello, readers!

This Friday's post is one that I've looked forward to sharing with you for a while. It's also one that I thought I had plenty of time to write, and then look up to see that I really don't have as much time as I thought! So, despite the fact that it's late again, I hope you enjoy reading. Let's dive in!

Do you ever think that sometimes it's pointless to try to do big things for God? After all, there's got to be someone else who's better equipped for the job out there! Or maybe you've wondered why it seems like only the powerful, influential people are called to serve God in big ways.  

God calls all kinds of people to live for Him.  He can use anyone for His glory and to accomplish His purposes. He doesn't just use the influential, powerful, potentially best looking people. He also uses the poorer, lowly, potentially worst looking people.  He doesn't just use the people who have grown up in church and know all the answers to the Bible questions. He also uses the people who have grown up with no clue about Him, yet want to serve Him now. He can use anyone, and He calls all kinds. 


Consider this scenario:
The door smashed open suddenly as a group of men burst into the little house. A group of ten people were sitting in a circle, singing. The song died on their lips as the men swarmed in and the leader yanked up one of the men in the circle. "What are you doing?" he demanded. "We are meeting to worship God together", the man replied calmly. His answer infuriated his questioner. "You are not any longer!", he shouted. "Seize them all  and take them to prison. We have a warrant from the governor to arrest people like you who practice this heresy!" And with that, every one of the believers who were meeting there that night were dragged off to prison. Then the group moved on to the next house...

A person that dragged  Christians to jail simply because they believed in God? That's definitely not the type of person God would ever use, right? Well, read the next scenario below.


The chains clanked noisily against the cold stone floor as the prisoner shifted in his position on the hard stone bench, lying down his pen for a moment. It, along with a small table, were the only items in the cell. They had been provided by his friends so he could continue with his writing, even while in prison. The prisoner was so thankful for his faithful friends who had basically provided him with everything he needed while he was imprisoned. He picked up his pen and continued his letter. "...my dear friends, I thank God when I remember you, and what you have done. May grace and peace abound with you....I also want you to know, brothers ,that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,  so that it has become known throughout the whole area and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ....I will rejoice.....for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.... To God be the  glory!"

Do you know who the imprisoned man was? It was Paul, one of the greatest disciples and spreaders of God's Word who ever lived! And do you know who the leader of the group that dragged the believers away was? It was also Paul! Paul (known as Saul in his early days), was a law-loving Pharisee who thought that all Christ-followers were practicing heresy and thought it was his duty to put them in prison! But God changed his heart, and he became one of God's greatest teachers and leaders. 

Now consider this scenario.
The man continued walking, his feet traveling a sandy path that would never end. The desert was so large, it would take days, maybe weeks to cross it! But he had to- his life depended on it. He stopped for a brief moment to take a drink from the waterskin hanging at his side- the only thing he had stopped to grab before fleeing into the desert. "Keep moving", he told himself, forcing his feet to walk a few more steps, then a few more. "If they catch me ,I'm as good as gone. I've got to keep going. No one in Egypt gets away with murder!" 

Someone who just killed someone else and is running away to escape punishment? That certainly doesn't fit the mold of someone who could be used effectively for Christ, right? Well, let's see.

"Where is he?", the people grumbled. "He's been up there for weeks! What could he be doing up on a mountain for so long?" The great crowds of people began to get impatient as days passed and their leader still did not return down from the great mountain. Finally, after more than a month, he was spotted coming down. "There he is! He's coming!", someone shouted. When their leader finally returned back to their camp, everyone was eager to know why he had been on the mountain for so long. But as the people crowded about, they suddenly began to back away. "His face! It's glowing!", they shouted. "What happened?" "I have been in the presence of the Holy God", their leader explained. "He has given me the rules He has appointed to govern His people. The Lord our God is holy!" 

The great leader went up on a mountain to receive instruction from God Himself, and who was in Gods' presence must  have been a great man, right? Someone who was righteous and a fit messenger for God. It was Moses- the same man who had led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the desert to the Promise Land. It was Moses- the same man who had killed another years ago and was running away!

You see? God uses all kinds! Some of the greatest Bible figures that God has used have come from backgrounds that you wouldn't expect. 

Some of the greatest missionaries have also been like that. If you had known their backgrounds, they would have seemed like the most unlikely candidates ever! 
Have you heard of George Muller? He was a Prussian man who lived in Bristol, England, during the the 19th century. During his lifetime, he provided the means for over 10,000 Bristol orphans to have a place to call home and a place to learn about God. Yet, his early life was nothing like his later life. In his early years, he stole, gambled, drank heavily, and felt no problems about it- until he was born again. From that time on, he strove to honor God with his life, and in doing so, paved the way for thousands of others to come to know Christ. 

There are so many other stories like this that I'd love to share, but don't have room for. Whether in the Bible or from more modern times, there are so many examples of people that God has called from unlikely places to serve Him. A few others you may want to read more about are King Saul, John Newton, Gladys Alyward, and Timothy.
And guess what? He can use you too! It doesn't matter if you think you're capable or not- He will call you for His purposes, no matter what they are.  That is something that I've come to realize lately, especially as I've been working through a Bible study on this topic. It doesn't matter if it's a "big" thing or a "small" thing. If you're doing something for God that He wants you to be doing, than you're serving Him!

What are your thoughts? Do you know a story of someone that God has called from an unlikely place to serve Him? Comment below!

Thanks for reading!
//Emily