Freedom in Christ Course; day 44 Nugget
Warts And All
The Bible is full of less-than-perfect people. Amazingly, God wants us to be part of His big “creation-to-the-end-of-the-world-and-beyond” story, and that is just as true today as it was when the Bible was written. So we can read in black and white letters on a page about some very real, emotional, people who made plenty of mistakes but were still used by God to do things of eternal significance, just as we can be.
Consider the emotional nature of the Apostle Peter. First, have a look at some occasions where he let his emotions run away with him and acted or spoke too hastily: Matthew 16:21–23; Matthew 17:1–5; John 18:1–11. Second, look at how Jesus was able to look beyond these emotional outbursts and see his potential: Matthew 16:17–19. Finally, see how that came true when Peter, under the power of the Holy Spirit, became the spokesperson of the early church: Acts 2:14–41. Nothing in your character is so difficult that God cannot make something good out of it!
Thank God for putting less-than-perfect people in the Bible! Thank Him that he has good works prepared for you to do while you are on this earth and that He can and will use you just as you are with your flaws and weaknesses as well as your gifts and strengths.
Warts And All
The Bible is full of less-than-perfect people. Amazingly, God wants us to be part of His big “creation-to-the-end-of-the-world-and-beyond” story, and that is just as true today as it was when the Bible was written. So we can read in black and white letters on a page about some very real, emotional, people who made plenty of mistakes but were still used by God to do things of eternal significance, just as we can be.
Consider the emotional nature of the Apostle Peter. First, have a look at some occasions where he let his emotions run away with him and acted or spoke too hastily: Matthew 16:21–23; Matthew 17:1–5; John 18:1–11. Second, look at how Jesus was able to look beyond these emotional outbursts and see his potential: Matthew 16:17–19. Finally, see how that came true when Peter, under the power of the Holy Spirit, became the spokesperson of the early church: Acts 2:14–41. Nothing in your character is so difficult that God cannot make something good out of it!
Thank God for putting less-than-perfect people in the Bible! Thank Him that he has good works prepared for you to do while you are on this earth and that He can and will use you just as you are with your flaws and weaknesses as well as your gifts and strengths.