Ever feel like your sins and mistakes disqualify you to be used by God? Like you're unusable? Ever look at yourself and see all of your flaws and deep insecurities and if you're anything like me, your too often short temper and say to yourself, "God can't use this!"? All you see when you look at your reflection is a lack of discipline, a lack of Biblical knowledge? Yeah, me too. I saw lack upon lack, failure upon failure.
I'm about to help you, like others have helped me...
“For God did not send His Son Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”- John 3:17
Don't get it yet? How about we define the word condemn via Webster’s Dictionary...
Condemn:
1. to pass an adverse judgement on; disapprove of strongly, censure;
2. a) to declare to be guilty of wrongdoing; convict b) to pass judicial sentence on; inflict a penalty upon c) to doom;
3. to declare (property) legally appropriated for public use;
4. to declare unfit for use or service.
Upon reading these definitions, the last definition pierced my heart. "To declare unfit for use or service." I started thinking of buildings that had been condemned. Ones labeled dangerous. Buildings no one wanted to go near. Ones that are no longer usable. That was exactly how I felt. Unsafe. Unlovely. Unusable. Convinced that Jesus wanted to wrap caution tape around my life to keep people back. “Stay away from this one. I love her, but she’s still too messed up to be of any use to me. Better stand clear of her.”
The words of John 3:17 coupled with the last definition released a flood of truth and healing over my heart. God was whispering tenderly to me. He did not see me as I saw myself. He did not see a condemned building… someone dangerous. Someone unlovely. Someone unusable. He saw someone He loved so much that He would send His only Son to die a shameful and excruciating death for her. He sent His Son to save me. To forgive me. To heal me. To set me free, fill me up, and USE me.
Not only does He find me usable, He wants to use me. I am not the same woman I was 2 years ago and you're not the same person you were 2 months ago...
Stop hiding behind your human failures. Don’t tell God that by your actions He cannot use you! He is God and He has work for you to do. He will prepare & cleanse you.
You have been forgiven of all of your sins. (1 John 1:9)
You are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
You are complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
You have purpose in Him. (Ephesians 2:10)
Isaiah was not good enough at first. Then an angel touched Isaiah’s mouth with an ember from the fire. He was made clean. Just like Isaiah, you have been made clean... Here's more proof, Hebrews 10:10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
How bout Paul? Paul reminds us that he started off by persecuting Christians. He rounded up men, women and children and brought them to the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem. He watched and approved as an innocent Stephen was stoned to death by a mob. But, despite all this, Jesus transformed Paul into an Apostle. “I am who I am,” St. Paul says, “through the Grace of God.” (1 Cort 15:10) And you can say the same…
And Peter... He's probably my favorite example... In the Gospel, Peter wants Jesus to leave him because he is so aware of his own sinfulness. Jesus says, “No way. I have work for you; you will be catching men.” (Matthew 4:19) In other words, “You catch them – I’ll clean them”.
I asked the question, "Can God allow others to hear loved ones' prayers?" I feel silly now for asking... He's God, He can do anything... All things. I hope this helped answer your prayers.
