Sandy Berry invited Tassie and me out to lunch about a month ago. Without thinking, I replied, “Uh-oh are we in trouble?” She looked at me incredulously and told me she would stop inviting if we always thought we were in trouble! My response was not meant to offend but was out of genuine, shell-shocked concern. Tassie and I had been ambushed in the past when some fellow coworkers invited us out. This experience left us with “baggage.”
The Apostle Paul also had “baggage” he brought with him and dealt with in his Christian walk. He did not allow it to hamper his work for Christ, choosing to praise Him instead.
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
-1Timothy 1:12-15
God was able to use Paul to accomplish great things despite Paul’s previous preoccupation with persecuting the people of God. He was strengthened and put into service because of the “more than abundant” grace of Jesus. This does not mean Paul ever forgot his past misguided aggression. His focus on God’s forgiveness and mercy propelled him to serve Him regardless of opposition.
Christians today are often hampered by their past and/or their supposed lack of talent. Questions such as, “How can God possibly use me?” or statements such as “I am just not talented enough to do ______ for God” loom, preventing them from allowing God to work through them. These Brothers and Sisters underestimate God’s power.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefor, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Like Paul, we all struggle with some weaknesses (including past failures/sins) in our service to God. Some grapple with their ability evangelize, teach a class, lead singing, visit the sick, etc. However the fact remains…God’s power is perfected in our weaknesses. Let us not focus on our weaknesses. Instead, let us boast in these shortcomings as we allow God to work through us! As one of our friends once said, “God is not looking for competent servants, He is looking for willing ones.” As we are willing, He makes us competent and will do great things to further His Kingdom through us.