Untrained and Uneducated

August 21st, 2009

This past Sunday in our “United” series we looked at the prayer of Jesus in John 17 that His followers would experience the power of God in their lives. It is an incredible thought to consider that the power of God is available to all who trust in Him. However, if you are like me there are times when I question God’s power in my life. I can think of thousands of reasons why God would not use me and it is easy to get discouraged and conclude that He needs someone better qualified to accomplish His will.

When I have those thoughts our questions I am encouraged by a verse in Acts 4.

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

This is an amazing verse! In the eyes of the religious leaders Peter and John were uneducated, untrained, and totally unworthy of being used by God. It became clear that the only reason they had the power of God in their lives was because they had “been with Jesus.”  As I read this verse I am reminded that only reason why anyone recieves the power of God in their lives is because they have been with Jesus! I don’t know about you, but for me this is the encouragement I need! There will always be someone who has better qualifications, more education, and seems better suited to be used by God, but the only qualification that God is looking for is that we are devoted to following Jesus.

If you desire to be used by God and see His power revealed in your life for His glory, don’t get sidetracked by the qualifications that the world would say is important for your life to count. Don’t be discouraged by comparing yourself to others. Don’t conclude that you are uneducated or untrained.

To see the power of God come alive in your life simply look to Jesus! He is the source of our power and He is all you need to accomplish what He has called you to do!

“For God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

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