“You are hereby ordered for induction.”

Photo by Chad Stembridge on Unsplash

The Marines may be looking for a few good men, but God is not so fussy!

Even the US Army, battling on both the European and Japanese theaters, had its standards. When WWII broke out my father pestered the Army recruiting office to sign him up. (Dad was so patriotic he made Patrick Henry look like Benedict Arnold.)

Fortunately for me, then age 3 ½ months old, Dad’s flat feet disqualified him from military service. Undaunted, Daddy uprooted us, moving us across the country so he could help repair Navy ships limping into Bremerton, Washington.

Amazingly, God has commanded everyone who welcomes Christ as Savior–including the ones with flat feet–to “go and tell” the Good News. He did not choose us because we were able, gifted communicators:

“Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of ‘the brightest and the best’ among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families.” (1 Corinthians 1:26, MSG)

People usually embrace a contrary-to-God standard. We’re apt to vote for members from the “est” crowd: the smartest, funniest, prettiest to set the pace: It’s always been like that.

Nearly 2,800 years ago, when Samuel looked for God’s choice of a king in Jesse’s family, young David was left out of the lineup! Even Samuel, though anointed to select God’s choice, came close to missing Heaven’s man for the job. David’s big brothers looked more promising.

“But GOD told Samuel, ‘Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart.’" (1 Samuel 16:7, MSG)

So you think you’re unqualified to share the Good News? Think again! God often uses the most unlikely to win the day:

“Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these ‘nobodies’ to expose the hollow pretensions of the ‘somebodies’? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29, MSG)

Years ago, before cell phones, texting, and e-mails, I led the women’s ministries in a church we attended. My goal: find a place of service for every woman in the assembly. I was thrilled when Winnie, though paralyzed on one side from a stroke, accepted the task of calling every lady in the church whenever a need arose.

Actually, God delights in showing up in weak people. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV)

Are you a Christ-follower? You are not only eligible, but elected to share the Good News. Rejoice in your high and holy privilege! “Go, tell it on a mountain–and everywhere!”

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