Blog: Called, Gifted, and Forgiven

The Apostle Paul was writing the letter of Ephesians to the church at Ephesus, not to pastors. Reflect on that as you read these words to average ordinary believers just like us.

Ephesians 4:1-5 …I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior – a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation), 2 with all humility (forsaking self-righteousness), and gentleness (maintaining self-control), with patience, bearing with one another in (unselfish) love. 3 Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace (each individual working together to make the whole successful). 4 There is one body (of believers) and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when called (to salvation). 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is (sovereign) over all and (working) through all and (living) in all. AMP

Eph 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people… ESV

Every believer is called and gifted by God!

Your life is perfectly equipped with the relationships, resources and experiences your destiny requires.

This text does advance to speak specifically to church leaders. Notice the essence of this is all about average ordinary believers being equipped to do extraordinary things.

Eph 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry. ESV

So many people tell me how they are not qualified for the work of the ministry. How tragic it would be to be called, gifted and unqualified. It may be cliché but it is true: God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

So many famous people in the Bible Tried to Disqualify Themselves:

1. Gideon - Judges 6:15 - "Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." (I’m a nobody, my family is a nobody and all my family’s friends are nobody’s.)
2. Jeremiah - Jeremiah 1:6 - "Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." (I’m too young and can’t speak well.)
3. Isaiah - Isaiah 6:5 - "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (I’m not worthy enough to be used by God.)
4. Sarah - Genesis 18:12-13 - "Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?" (I’m too old!)
5. Jonah - Jonah 1:3 - "But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD." (People are too wicked to be reached by God)
6. Peter - Luke 5:8 - "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (I’m sinful and have made too many mistakes)
7. Amos - Amos 7:14 - "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdsman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit." (Nobody in my family has ever been anybody special)
8. Solomon - 1 Kings 3:7 – I’m too young to be used by God.
9. Moses - Exodus 3:11 - "Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Also Exodus 4:10 - "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue." Also Exodus 4:13 - "O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send." (I’ve made too many mistakes and just don’t speak well)
   

Moses murdered someone and ran for his life. No wonder he was disqualifying himself.

Self-disqualification is actually a part of the process of humility. Who Me? That’s crazy! Lord just look at where I’ve been and all I’ve done. God is not shocked. He factored all that in before he called you. Before he formed you in the womb, he foreknew everything about you factoring in all your mistakes as part of his plan for you to encourage the rest of us who have a past littered with shameful dysfunction. Maybe your family put the funk in dysfunction.

• Did your mom have the reputation of a harlot?
• Was your great, great grandma a hooker?
• Did your great, great grandpa commit adultery and then murder the lady’s husband to cover it up?
  

I’m describing the very lineage of Christ and it is clearly written for us to plainly see. Jesus family line is a mess! He’s the MESSiah who can turn any mess into a message!

Everyone has reasons why they can’t be used by God.

• Abraham was old.  
• Leah was unattractive.  
• Joseph was abused and forgotten.  
• Moses stuttered.
• Jonah was slow to respond.
• Elijah was suicidal.
• Peter was hot-tempered.
• Martha was a worrier.
• Thomas had doubts.
  

The list goes on and on and on! But because of the blood of Jesus Christ, you can enter the very presence of God with confidence and boldness. Let’s surrender to the cross together agreeing his suffering was more than enough for our sins.

GP2RL: Take communion alone with God this week. As you do so rehearse the reality of how so many people who were used so mightily by God struggled with God’s restoration.