ordinary

I am currently reading through the book of Acts in my Bible.  This evening I read a verse that jumped off the page at me.  Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (emphasis mine)

 First, let me give you background into what had just happened.  Peter and John had just healed a crippled beggar.  I love that they take no credit for themselves.  Chap 3:12 "Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"  They knew the source of power, and they knew it was not themselves.  Had they taken the credit, it would be like a lamp boasting about how bright it makes the room never crediting the outlet where the power to shed light originates.

They healed this man, then gave proper credit (3:16) that it was the name of Jesus and faith that comes from Him that actually healed this man.  Of couse the religious leaders got their feathers a little ruffled by this point and brought Peter and John to a trial of sorts.  In speaking before the leaders Peter is "filled with the Holy Spirit" and speaks bravely and passionately about Christ.  And we see another aspect of the job of the Holy Spirit, he gave Peter courage to speak.  I could go on but that is a blog for another day because it will derail me completely in what I'm focusing on now.

So that is the background to the verse I focused on.  I was humbled as I read it over and over again.  "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."   The only thing extraordinary about these ordinary men was that they had been with Jesus. 

It is so easy to think "How can God use me?  I don't have a college degree, I've never been to seminary or taken Hebrew/Greek.  I'm just ordinary."  I know, I think it maybe a little too often.  Here is what I love about God, He doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies those He has called.  It isn't my knowledge or wisdom or talents that make God able to use me.  It is spending time with Him and knowing that nothing is from me but it is all from the name of Jesus and the faith that comes through Him and then being willing to allow Him to use me. 

My prayer is that when people spend time with me, they will, like the elders of the law did with Peter and John, take note that I have been with Jesus.  I am thankful that even though I am unschooled and ordinary, my extrordinary God can still use me for His glory and His purpose.