Ryan Braun Of the Milwaukee Brewers was last years National League Most Valuable Player. He was sitting on top of the world, recognized as the best of the best in his profession for that year. And then the news broke that he had failed a random drug test. His testosterone levels were much too high indicating the use of performance enhancing drugs and he was disqualified. He faced a 50 game suspension. He appealed and yesterday it was announced he won his suspension on a technicality and will not be disqulaified after all. He recieved a second chance.
All this got me thinking about how easy it is to be disqulified because of mistakes or failures. Poor grades can disqulify us from being accepted in the college we want to attend. Too many mistakes at work can cost us our job. A one night stand can cost us our marriage. A split second decision to commit a crime can disqualify us for freedom.
Mistakes, failures and sometimes even the fallout of others peoples mistakes and failures can have a huge impact upon our lives. We can easily end up feeling disqualfied.
But here is some really good news. God is the God of not just the second chance, but the third, the fiftieth, the hundreth and on and on. No matter what mistakes you have made, no matter how you have failed, no matter your circumstsnces, no matter how others have wounded or failed you, He still can and wants to use you! You are not disqualified.
I saw this poster recently and thought it was a great reminder.
The next time you feel like God can’t use you, just remember…
Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate locusts.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
Mary Magdalene was, well you know.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small. Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer…
Lazarus was dead!
You think God can’t use you because you are somehow disqulified? Think again.
Praise God for second, third, and fourth chances. His grace is amazing. Thanks for the good word Todd.
This is the best post I have read, ever. There is nothing more to say….. Thank you Jesus that by your stripes we are healed!
Nice!
It is such a challenge to ignore the feelings of unworthiness as if being good enough gives God the reason He can use us. God knows we have all failed, we all continue to fail, and in our own strength will yet fail. Understanding that He takes our weakness and makes us strong, that He uses the despised of this world, that He alone is the reason we overcome frees us to believe Him to do the impossible in us. God saved us all through the weakness of Jesus that we who were disqualified become qualified and competent in Him. We walk by faith and not by sight.
GREAT GREAT LESSON ON WHO GOD CHOOSES. I have been very involved helping my Messianic Jewish congregation moving from Evergreen to Jewish town in Denver. New location is Cedar and Monaco near George Washington High school. On Sunday the facility is a BLACK BAPTIST CONGREATION, then Saturday Shabbot for two Messianic congregations. One is Hispanic and then my little but growing Orthodox Messianic congregation. Todd let me tell you; when you understand the Torah service it will water your eyes. Why Jews don’t see Yeshua is beyond me. My Rabbi’s calling is to lead Orthodox Jews to Yeshua. Thanks for your wonderful job on The Feasts. You hit a home run with them. Hope maybe you both can share in some of the Feasts starting with Purim soon; with me in the future. Maybe you two can come as visitors some Shabbot after the new church is started. We will keep in touch with you both. God is calling me to continue doing Shabbot. But that leaves Sunday for us to visit your new ministry. I feel I am being called to try and help educate believers in their God Yeshua and how He lived his earthly life. You know He was a perfect Jew and so was Paul. They still did all the 613 commandments. My learning curve has gone straight vertical. That is Pilot talk for learning about my Yeshua. Leading me closer to him everyday. I am also approved as moderator for THE THRUTH PROJECT. Maybe we can do that in the future also.
Thanks for arranging my life changing trip HOME to Israel. Reed Sundine