We are preoccupied with our pedigree. Our pedigrees go to the trash once we come to God. There’s Moses fresh from the Ivy League Egyptian University brimming with confidence who was asked to spend quality time in wilderness tending sheep. Paul inspite of his Jewish pedigree was the apostle to the gentiles.
Moses had to shed his 'prince' identity. Paul had to give-up his Hebrew-of-Hebrews identity. What you had been does not matter to God when you come to him. Where you had studied doesn't count. Your area of expertise would add up to nothing. Your pedigree goes to the trash.
Our identity is not what we are and what we have done. Read Exodus 3: 11, 12. Moses asks God why of all the people he was selected to bring His people out of Egypt. Look at God’s reply. He says “I will be with you…”. He does not talk of Moses’ pedigree. He does not talk about his training in the palace or knowledge of the wilderness or his striking personality that impressed midianite girls or his muscles that killed the Egyptian. Nothing matters. All that matters is that we surrender all to God. He’d throw our credentials and certificates into the trash and then cleanse us and use us. Our identity is in HIM only.
Let’s look at the greatest apostle of the New Testament – Paul. Paul was the right candidate for preaching to the Jews. Look at his resume’ – Born of the tribe of Benjamin, Circumcised on the eighth day, Hebrew of Hebrews, a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee, legalistically faultless, had connections in the top places… He’d be definitely hired if they were hiring for the post of ‘apostle to the Jews’. Along with this he had the passion to reach the Jews (Rom11:13, 14). But God had other plans. He was not accepted in the synagogues Acts9:23. The disciples were not friendly until Barnabas vouched for him. Even in Jerusalem they tried to kill him Acts9:29. Only when he left was there a peace in the Judean Church Acts9:31. Paul’s ministry started from the time he accompanied Barnabas to the Greeks in Antioch. Paul had to give in to God’s plan and only then he would be used.
Our identity is not what we are and what we have done. Read Exodus 3: 11, 12. Moses asks God why of all the people he was selected to bring His people out of Egypt. Look at God’s reply. He says “I will be with you…”. He does not talk of Moses’ pedigree. He does not talk about his training in the palace or knowledge of the wilderness or his striking personality that impressed midianite girls or his muscles that killed the Egyptian. Nothing matters. All that matters is that we surrender all to God. He’d throw our credentials and certificates into the trash and then cleanse us and use us. Our identity is in HIM only.
Let’s look at the greatest apostle of the New Testament – Paul. Paul was the right candidate for preaching to the Jews. Look at his resume’ – Born of the tribe of Benjamin, Circumcised on the eighth day, Hebrew of Hebrews, a student of Gamaliel, a Pharisee, legalistically faultless, had connections in the top places… He’d be definitely hired if they were hiring for the post of ‘apostle to the Jews’. Along with this he had the passion to reach the Jews (Rom11:13, 14). But God had other plans. He was not accepted in the synagogues Acts9:23. The disciples were not friendly until Barnabas vouched for him. Even in Jerusalem they tried to kill him Acts9:29. Only when he left was there a peace in the Judean Church Acts9:31. Paul’s ministry started from the time he accompanied Barnabas to the Greeks in Antioch. Paul had to give in to God’s plan and only then he would be used.
If we are pre-occupied with our past and pedigree we’d still trod the paths of mediocrity. We'll be limiting God. We have to comprehend the fact that God doesn’t operate the way we do. Henry Varley challenged once “ The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him” If only we’d give up our ideas and give in to God’s. Paul had to go through that. Moses had to stomach that. And what fine instruments they were turned to. Let's come a clean slate.
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