DISQUALIFIED

It is really disturbing how people are so apt to display other people’s sins. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. I am not saying that people who do wrong should not repent. It is absolutely important that those who offend anyone and offend God should repent and get themselves together. Yet, I have a problem with how people see someone fail or fall and yet instead of loving them, they display their wrong. It is displayed to other people. They will call someone, text someone, put it in a song, take a picture, make posters, post it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to make sure that person is exposed to EVERYONE!

They even go so far as to say, “God can’t use them. They have done something wrong.” The problem with that statement is that every person God has used has been the most messed up people around.

There are even several well-known international church leaders (whom I will not name out of respect) that have been idolized and put on pedestals as if they can do no wrong. The minute they did one little or even big thing wrong or even appear to do something wrong, there are YouTube videos, pictures on every social media possible and everywhere you go people are talking about it saying, “What a shame.” There is this school of thought that if someone like that does something wrong they should be sat down and never be able to be used by God again. Yes, they say, “They should not be allowed to be used by God again.” Who died and made them the judge, jury and Jesus’ personal assistant?

Even with people who have been mistreated, abused or wronged, there is this school of thought that they are too damaged to be used by God. That can't be further from the truth.

The real truth is, God uses whom he chooses no matter what their issue or issues may be.

Noah was a drunk, yet God used him to build the first unsinkable cruise ship.

Abraham thought he was too old, yet God used him to father not one but many nations.

Isaac was a daydreamer, yet God used him to be the son of promise that would come through Abraham.

Jacob was a liar, yet God used him to bless an entire nation of people that would take on his new name, Israel.

Leah was ugly, but God blesses her with children and favors her to birth praise in the midst of the pain.

Joseph was abused, yet God uses him to show us no matter how low you go his favor is better than friends and finances.

Moses had a stuttering problem, yet God used him to free thousands of people and start the first freedom train from captivity to salvation.

Gideon was afraid, yet God used him and a group of 300 to defeat an army of thousands.

Samson was a selfish and bad example of a leader, yet God used him to judge Israel.

Rahab was a prostitute, yet God used her to hide the Hebrew spies and saved her and her family’s life.

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, yet God used them at young ages.

David had an affair and was a murderer, yet God used him to defeat a Giant and become a great King.

Elijah was suicidal, yet God used him to perform great miracles.

Jonah ran from God, yet God used him to prophesy and share a message.

Naomi was a widow, yet God used her to guide Ruth and prepare her for marriage.

           

Job went bankrupt, becomes fatherless and loses his health; yet God used him to show faithfulness in the midst of loss.

Peter denied Christ, yet God used him to show faith in God and become a leader in the early Christian Church.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying; yet God used them to spread the Gospel.

Martha worried about everything, yet God used her to show hospitality.

Mary Magdalene had seven demons, yet God healed her and she became a follower.

The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once and was with several men; yet god used her to become a great evangelist.

Lazarus was dead! WOW! But yet God used him to show the world that anything is possible.

Marcus was a thief, a player, a hypocrite, an addict, a smart-mouthed brat, a user, a verbal abuser and a big ole hater. Yet, God has used and is using me to bless the lives of thousands of children through music and to minister in worship. Though I didn’t have an active one, God blessed me to bless my children with the presence and the active role of a saved and loving father and is blessing me to love my wife and be the best husband she has and will ever known.

There are people reading this right now that may have every excuse in the book as to why you feel God cannot use you. Let me tell you, God doesn’t use people because they have met some requirements. Being ready for God to use you is not like filling out a job application or making out a resume. If he were to put up one qualification, it would disqualify everyone that ever lived and those to come.

Your disqualification and your admittance of that, qualifies you to be the one He will use. All God wants is a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Contrite means feeling or expressing remorse or that you are affected by guilt. If you can have that, God can use you.

And don’t think because you don’t sing, preach, usher, announce, run the offering, help with communion, assist with baptism, cook the chicken dinners or help with childcare in the nursery that God isn’t using you. God uses people to change the world in ways that some of us may miss.

Now remember the names of the people I shared in the beginning? Did you not know that several of them are directly connected?

Abraham thought he was too old to have kids, yet God used him to father not one but many nations. Abraham had a son that God tested him with by telling him to take his only son up to the mountain and sacrifice him. He didn’t do it because God would bring the promise through Abraham’s son Isaac who was a daydreamer, yet God used him to be the son of promise. Out of Isaac would come Jacob.

Jacob was a liar who cheated and stole his brothers’ birthright, yet God used him to bless an entire nation of people that would take on his new name, Israel. Jacob loved Rachel whom he did marry after over a decade of being tricked and years of waiting. He was first given Leah who was ugly. Leah wanted him to love her so she has children and named them by what her feelings were at the time because she wanted Jacob to love her. Her first was Ruben meaning misery (as she felt miserable because her husband didn’t love her). Her second was Ruben meaning hearing (God had heard her cry). Her third was named Levi meaning join (she wanted her husband to become attached to her). When she had the fourth child something unique happened. She named him Judah meaning “This time I will praise the Lord.” And she stopped having children after that.

Joseph (the one that God gave so much favor to in jail and with the Pharaoh) was abused by some of his brothers who by the way were jealous because he was the first born of Jacob from the woman he loved the most, Rachel. They were a blended family. But get this; remember misery (I mean Ruben)? It was Ruben (I mean misery) who delivered Joseph out of the hands of the others who attacked him. Ruben had him put in a pit. And it was Leah’s praise (I mean Judah) that pulled him out of the pit.

Never think your presence or the work you do, as small as it may seem, is not important. Somewhere, somebody is smiling and having a better life because you are or have been a part of it, with your flaws, disqualifications and all.