The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
What do Peter, Paul, and Mary have in common? If you are in my generation, no, I am not talking about the musical trio of the 1960’s. (Although that title might have caught your attention to make you read my article). I am referring to these three people in the New Testament. Peter denied Jesus three times just prior to the crucifixion. Paul was a prosecutor of the early Christians. Mary was a simple teenage girl, basically a nobody.
God used these three people in unexpected ways. Even though Peter denied Christ, Jesus told him he would be the foundation of the New Testament Church (Matthew 16:13-19). Although Paul persecuted the church of his day, after his conversion God used him to write half of the New Testament. Mary of course, ushered in the birth of the Messiah Jesus and a new Church Age.
If God used people like these, He can use people like you and me. He does not look at a person’s sinful past or if they have done great accomplishments.
He looks for simple people saved by His grace. I personally am very thankful for that! Don’t think for one moment that you are of no value to God. In fact, sometimes those who have been through great adversity, or have wondered away from God, are people He can use the most. Those whom the world has chosen last, might be the ones God chooses first.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 says, “For consider your calling brother, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth, but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
You are not a nobody in the eyes of God. He can make your life count for something significant in an unexpected way.
Pastor and author Jim Cymbala wrote, “God sometimes has a role to play for those whom we wouldn’t choose. He is the master organizer, pulling together talents and personalities from a wide assortment of humanity. Don’t believe the lies of Satan! No matter what you have or haven’t done up to this point, God wants you to stay the course. He gave you a mission because He knew you could do it. It’s always too soon to quit. It’s never too late to get started again.” (1)
1. Jim Cymbala, You Were Made For More, Zondervan, 2008, pgs 88 & 20
amen john
1 corinthians 1:18-31
‘God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform’ was the songwriter of William Cowper. I personally believe that He uses certain elements
small and grand to confound and rearrange this world, as you mentioned in your article. Very good observation to bring up this topic.
I am going in a different direction but it was what came to mind because God using things that are weak to overthrow the strong. It exemplifies His power and wisdom.
The various things even in nature can pull down or build up the way He chooses for it to be.
I think of sources we can overlook that changes the outcome for people such as the insects and weeds that are destructive. The bigger things such as weather that affects the planet. The way we pollute the earth and use chemicals that bring harm to the soil and digested into our bodies.
These things in scripture have shown us the results past and the future yet to come because of a disobedient heart in mankind.
I know you are speaking about people and there have been multiple individuals that were unknowns but their life stories were told because of their obedience to their Lord that speaks out even from the grave. His reward is to the faithful.
He has the power to transform our lives and make us His own. We may be nobodies in this world but He calls us by name and we have a purpose in life that follows us into eternity.