God’s gifts and calling are sure

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11:29 ESV)

I read recently that many pastors give up and quit because they have made mistakes, failed somehow in their ministries, gotten discouraged by a lack of success, given into some sin, and/or simply felt that God had removed His gifting and calling from them. But, I heard someone correctly say recently, “If God can’t use imperfect people, He’d have nobody to work with!” And that’s certainly true. But it’s also important to understand the passage at the top that promises that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Therefore, if you failed somehow, repent (turn around) and get back to work! Just like a GPS device, when you make a wrong turn, God recalculates for you to get you back onto the right course.

No one does good, not a single one

“As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” “They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them.They don’t know where to find peace.” “They have no fear of God at all.” (Rom. 3:10-18 NLT)

God can use anyone 

The Bible is filled with examples of people who were imperfect, made mistakes, yet God used them.

·      Noah was a drunk.

·      Cyrus didn’t know who God was.

·      Sarah was too old.

·      Abraham told people he was of that his wife was his sister.

·      Isaac was a daydreamer.

·      Jacob was a liar.

·      Leah was ugly.

·      Joseph was abused.

·      Moses had a stuttering problem.

·      Gideon was afraid.

·      Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.

·      Rahab was a prostitute.

·      Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.

·      David was an adulterer and a murderer.

·      Elijah was suicidal.

·      Isaiah preached naked.

·      Jonah ran from God.

·      Naomi was a widow.

·      Job went bankrupt.

·      John the Baptist dressed weird and ate bugs.

·      Peter denied Christ.

·      The disciples fell asleep while praying.

·      Martha worried about everything.

·      The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once).  Zacchaeus was too small.

·      Paul was too religious.

·      Timothy had an ulcer.

·      Lazarus was dead!

 Therefore

 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9 NLT)

 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Pet. 4:10 NIV)

God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called

It’s not about our ability, It’s about our availability!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV) 

“In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets – some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.” (2 Tim. 2:20-21 MSG)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 KJV)

Yes, God can use YOU!

If you make a mistake, do what you can to fix it. If you’ve sinned, repent quickly. But don’t quit! God can use all things for good, you just need to be available.