What’s in your heart and can God use it?

If you are the prettiest, smartest, well educated, and most prepared person out there I have some good news for you; God can probably still use you. However, if you are broken, sinful, unprepared, and flawed God will probably choose to use you. Don’t be surprised that he chose you instead of someone else. This is a mistake that so many of us make. It keeps us from doing big things. We think that those around us are better qualified. They’re less flawed, more prepared, or just better Christians. God knows your heart and that’s what he’s looking at. He doesn’t see your appearance, or look at how well you’ve prepared. He just looks at your heart.

If you think he can’t use you look at some of the people he’s used:

Moses stuttered. David's armor didn't fit. John Mark was rejected by Paul. Timothy had ulcers. Hosea married a prostitute. Rahad was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Jacob was a liar. David had an affair.

Solomon was too rich. Job went bankrupt.

Abraham was too old. David, Jeremiah, and Timothy were too young.

Peter was afraid of death. Lazarus was dead.

John was self-righteous. Naomi was a widow.

Paul was a murderer. So was Moses.

Jonah ran from God. Miriam was a gossip. Gideon and Thomas both doubted.

Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal. Elijah was burnt out. John the Baptist was an introvert who ate bugs. Martha was a worry-wart. Mary was lazy.

Samson had long hair. Noah got drunk.

Did I mention that Moses had a short fuse? So did Peter, Paul -- well, lots of folks did. But God doesn't require perfection. In fact we don’t find too many perfect people serving him. Only 1 in the history of the bible and in return he was hung on a cross to die for all.

Really think about it, how unlikely is Jesus? His mother’s faithfulness was questioned; some thought her an adulterous. His parents were young. He was born in a barn. His family fled from the law. They lived in exile for years. He had no college education, but was a trained carpenter. Yet this man led 12 disciples across the country changing lives. He was so influential that the heads of church and state put him to death.

So what is it that makes ordinary people extraordinary? It’s their heart. It’s a passion that God has laid on their heart. An awe inspiring need to serve him no matter the cost transforms these ordinary people into heroes. I can give you some modern day examples of this:

Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslovia. She was one of 5 children. Two of her siblings did not live to adulthood. She was from a well-off family and grew up in a comfortable home. Her father died when she was a teenager, and at 18 she decided to become a nun and missionary. The rest you know………

Youcef Nadarkhani is a father of two, a pastor, and imprisoned Christian who may die for his beliefs. Youcef was born in Iran. He is an Evangelical pastor who spoke out on forced religious education in Iranian schools. I’m sure he was concerned as any parent would be about what his children were being taught. He has been imprisoned and is sentenced to die. His crime being a Christian, and the government has told him that if he renounces Christianity they will free him.

Gianna Jessen whose life inspired the movie October baby has Cerebral Palsy. Her mother was 17 years old when she was born as a result of a saline abortion performed at 7 ½ months of gestation. Instead of dying she lived. Gianna fought for life in a local hospital for 3 months. She has not had an easy life, but she says she is happy to be alive and thanks God that she is here. She does not consider herself a by-product of conception, a clump of tissue, or any other of the titles given to a child in the womb. Gianna considers herself a person with a right to be alive, and she thanks God that she has had the chance to share her life with others.

There are more modern day religious heroes than you or I know. Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Modern day Christian heroes serve others out of love. They have a burden for God and they cannot just stand still. Modern day Christian heroes do Weird stuff. They don’t value the things society tells them are important, but the things God tells them matter. They know that God will use them and they have enough faith to pursue his purpose even in the face of disappointment and uncertainty. I believe the difference between a Christian hero and you or I is a small thing. You see the devil will place obstacles in your way. The devil doesn’t want you or I to serve God’s purpose and his mission is to distract and divert us from it. These Christian heroes see those obstacles and choose to overcome. These are people who no matter how many times the world knocks them down they get up again. They praise God in the storms and worship his purpose even in their pain. These are the people we need to raise up as examples for our children, and not some sports or movie star.

But most of all this is what we should aspire to be…………………………………

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.