God’s criteria for calling people to His work defies conventional wisdom. The Bible’s narrative is stuffed with unlikely selections – individuals who, by any human measure, seem ill-suited to perform divine tasks. Yet, again and again, God’s selections reveal a deep truth: His work is achieved not through human strength or talent but through hearts aligned with His own. As the Apostle Paul writes, “God selected the silly things of the world to shame the clever; God selected the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27, NIV).
In our material-oriented world, power and influence are sometimes seen as requirements for impact. But God works by a special set of standards. Throughout Scripture, we see His willingness to decide on people neglected by society, who then accomplish extraordinary things by His power. King David is a main example.
When the prophet Samuel got here to anoint the long run king of Israel, God directed him past David’s older, more impressive brothers and settled on the youngest – a shepherd boy from an extraordinary family. “The Lord doesn’t have a look at the things people have a look at. People have a look at the outward appearance, however the Lord looks at the center” (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV). In selecting David, God revealed that His purposes depend not on human ability but on a deep responsiveness to Him.
This selection of the lowly and the common-or-garden highlights an important point: God’s work is a partnership that does not depend upon us; quite, it transforms us. Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt, doubted his ability to talk well, yet God selected him to confront Pharaoh and deliver a nation from oppression.
Similarly, Peter, who denied Christ thrice, went on to change into a pillar of the early church. When God called these men, He didn’t ignore their weaknesses; as an alternative, He promised to work through them. Paul, who struggled together with his own weaknesses, learned that God’s strength is perfected in human frailty: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV).
Such selections upend our assumptions. God’s work isn’t about human perfection or credentials; it’s about His transformative power in willing hearts. Scripture offers one other remarkable example within the lifetime of Paul. Once a persecutor of Christians, Paul became one of the vital influential voices for Christ, showing us that even past opposition to God isn’t a disqualification for His service.
Paul’s conversion reminds us that the central qualification for participating in God’s work is a willingness to be modified. God doesn’t require a flawless past or an impeccable skillset. His grace alone enables us to fulfil our calling.
By drawing extraordinary people into extraordinary roles, God demonstrates His desire to be known by His people and His mercy to those that feel insignificant or unworthy. He lifts up the common-or-garden and works through the flawed in order that His strength is unmistakable.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the dominion of heaven” (Matthew 5:3, NIV), He illuminated a fundamental truth: those that recognise their need for God are sometimes those most able to receive His calling. In their dependence, they find His strength.
The journey of responding to God’s call isn’t without cost. Those whom God chooses are sometimes required to let go of private plans and concepts about success. Jesus demonstrated this Himself, showing His disciples the true nature of divine purpose through humble acts of service. When He washed His disciples’ feet, He illustrated that greatness in the dominion of God looks very different from greatness on this planet.
To follow Him requires a give up of ambition and a willingness to let His purposes guide our lives. The consequence, nonetheless, is a profound freedom, knowing that what we’re doing isn’t for our own advancement but for something far greater.
The lives of those called by God bear witness to a pattern that’s strikingly consistent: a recognition of 1’s own limitations, a yielding to God’s guidance, and the resulting transformation that serves to reflect His glory quite than human achievement. God’s purposes are fulfilled not because we bring great strength but because He imparts it. This isn’t simply a comforting idea; it’s a radical challenge to our values. God’s power works precisely through our imperfections, our lack of qualifications, and our moments of doubt.
As Paul explains, “But God selected the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that will not be – to nullify the things which can be, in order that nobody may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:28–29, NIV). The reminder here is evident: God’s work, ultimately, is His work. While He invites us to participate, it’s His power that accomplishes the result, not our own.
In a culture that celebrates self-sufficiency, this call to dependency may feel counterintuitive, yet it’s liberating. We are free from the pressure to measure up, free to approach our calling with humility, and free to experience the surprising power of God’s grace. To be called by God is to be called to not self-glorification but to service and transformation, allowing His purposes to unfold in ways in which reveal His strength through our own vulnerability.
This pattern of selecting the common-or-garden and dealing through the weak shows us that God’s invitation is each gracious and intentional. He doesn’t demand extraordinary capabilities but offers Himself as our sufficiency.
The query, then, isn’t whether we’re strong enough, expert enough, or ok, but whether we’re willing to let Him shape us for His purposes.
