Do you feel like God could never use you? That you don’t have what it takes?

Too often we look at others and wish we had their gifts and talents. We think about our mistakes, our education or lack of, our family history and we wonder … how could God use me? I hope you’ll take some time to read today’s Old Testament passages and think about who God used here.

I hope you will also consider whether there is something you need to do or something you need to leave behind so you can be used by God more.

And, as we start the gospel of John, we’ll talk about the God who “invaded” history.

Today’s Readings:

1 Samuel 22 & 23
Psalm 59.6-17
Proverbs 16.1-2
John 1.1-28

How Could God Use Me?

1 Samuel 22 & 23:

My Spiritual Gifts?

Have you ever wondered about your spiritual gifts? Or lamented the fact that you don’t have other gifts or talents? Possibly even wondered if you were good at anything or had any spiritual gifts?

It’s so easy to look at others who might have great musical abilities or teaching gifts or success in some other ministry or area of life and wish that were you.

Perhaps it is an education you believe you lack … or experience … or opportunity.

Or maybe it’s your past mistakes or your family history or even your race or nationality that you believe keeps you from being used by God.

I hope you’ll take some time to read and consider today’s reading in 1 Samuel.

Mighty Men & Women

Look at the men described here … men who would later be called David’s “mighty men.”

… everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented … (v. 22.2).

These were not the élite or the talented. These were not princes or royalty. They were probably not well-educated or polished. They were the guys not making it someplace else.

Yet … God would make a mighty army out of them. They would one day march into Jerusalem. They would become the king’s men.

But what if they had stayed home and simply bemoaned the fact that they weren’t well-bred or well-educated or born into different circumstances? Instead, they took a risk. But they had to leave something behind and go where David was and where they believed God was working.

What Do You Need to Do?

What do you need to do to be used by God? Is there something you need to leave behind? Maybe it’s your comfort zone. Or maybe you need to quit grumbling and complaining and get in motion.

Where do you see God working? Where is there a need?

Maybe you don’t have a degree in theology. Maybe you don’t have a degree at all. But you can go to a Bible study. You can pray and look for someone to disciple you. Perhaps you need to start working on that degree or get some other training. Maybe you can take classes online. You can read books … or listen to podcasts. There are many opportunities to grow and learn.

Perhaps you don’t have the experience to teach a class now. But you can volunteer to be an assistant and let that teacher mentor you. Maybe you aren’t the soloist, but you can join the choir. Start where you are. Use what you have available to you. God can do great things with those who will humbly and obediently make themselves available to be used by Him.

One Example

I have spent a lot of time helping and encouraging men and women who want to be involved in Biblical counseling. There are many resources and opportunities to get trained today. Many of them are free or available at a minimal cost and doable from home even with kids and jobs and other responsibilities.

One website that offers a wealth of information and training is the Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship … much of it absolutely FREE! Notice the second part of that name, “discipleship.” This isn’t just for those who want to be formal counselors but it’s also for those who want to be better children’s workers, mentor moms, small group leaders, and just about any area of Christian service. It’s also for those who want to be better equipped to minister to a friend or be better moms and dads.

Another is the Expository Counseling Center where Dr. Nicholas Ellen offers many free videos that can help you grow in your own understanding, as well as, your ability to help others.

Many Bible teachers offer their sermons and notes online. There are podcasts, audios, and even, video recordings. (I’ve listed a few other websites below.)

Get in motion! God can and will use you if you’ll be faithful with the opportunities you have (Lk. 19.11-27)! God is a great Rewarder of faithfulness!

Today’s Other Readings:

Psalm 59.6-17:

God Is My Defense

The psalmist felt surrounded by cruel enemies, but he kept his eyes on the Lord and the ultimate end of the wicked:

But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me (vv. 8-10).

Proverbs 16.1-2:

Pure in Our Own Eyes

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits (v. 2).

We’re not exactly impartial when it comes to judging ourselves. To begin with, we often use the wrong standard of measure. We compare ourselves to other people and think we’re not doing so badly.

Even when we bemoan our lack of some gift or opportunity, we seldom allow it to be an opportunity for self-examination.

And when we sin, we too easily blame someone else for causing us to sin. It’s the husband, the wife, the children God gave me. It’s my boss or my circumstances that are making it impossible for me to do right.

But no one else, no set of circumstances can make us sin (1 Cor. 10.13) and our standard for living is not other people. Our standard is Christ. We should look at our lives in light of how He lived and with His help seek to be obedient to His Word. When we do, we’ll grow in spiritual maturity and find joy in spite of anything going on in our lives (Jn. 15.11; Jas, 1.2-5).

John 1.1-28:

God “Invaded” History

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

This verse speaks of the Deity of Christ. Jesus, the Word, was “in the beginning.” When the worlds spoken of in Genesis 1 were created, Jesus already was. He was with God the Father and He was God. He and the Father are One.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Once when I heard someone teaching on the “I AM” statements in the book of John, he made some comments about John 1. I believe the way he phrased it was that “God invaded history” by sending His Son.

Of course, we know that God is constantly invading or intervening in history and in all the affairs of men. He is the Sovereign Ruler and Controller of everything. But He intervened in a special way by sending His Son.

¹⁶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

God came in the form of a man to dwell among us so we could know Him through the words and works of His Son. Glory of glories!

Questions to Ponder or Journal:

Do you know the God of history and all eternity? Have you come to Him through His Son? If so, are you living obediently before Him?

And are you using the gifts and talents He has given you? Or is there some area where you need to get in motion or an area where you need to grow? Are there some opportunities you might investigate? Start where you are and be faithful!

Coming Up:

In the coming days, we’ll talk about God’s homework and how we sometimes do the Christian two-step (one step forward, two steps back). We’ll, also, look at so-called white magic, what it means to resist the devil, what to do when you’re at your wit’s end, and how to respond to imperfect authority.

I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them. 

If you would like to receive a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the book of Mark, you can click here for more information.

Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥

Online Resources:

Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship conferences, videos, audios & podcasts

Association of Certified Biblical Counselors conferences, posts & podcasts

Grace to You, John MacArthur Sermons, Audios, Podcasts

Ligonier Ministries, R.C. Sproul & many others

Expository Counseling Center, Dr. Nicholas Ellen

Note about this post:

I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer. 

A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”

I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.

Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)

I sometimes LINKUP with these blogs.