Deep down, many of us don’t really believe that God can use us in a significant way. We are not trained, we have no special talents and we doubt that God even wants to use us to change the world. In fact, we suspect that we are not worthy to be used by Him. Or if so, that our contribution isn’t that important.

I remember when my boys were young and my older son was waxing eloquently about how important a certain person was because of what they did. I asked him, “What does your dad do?” He said, “Oh, you’re just an ordinary worker.” It was funny but it is how we often feel. We are just ordinary workers. How can our contribution count?

God’s view is different. Paul says in Ephesians 2:10 that “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do Good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God specifically created each of us uniquely for a unique work that he has for us to do on His behalf. That is an amazing statement. In His kingdom there are no ordinary workers. We are all divinely commissioned for specific tasks He has for us. We are divinely commissioned and gifted for His specific work.

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Each of us has a unique role to fulfill and part to play. Paul says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

We often mistakenly think that ministry is reserved for those who are trained. Actually ministry is reserved for those who are gifted by God and that includes everyone who follows Him. Again, 1 Corinthians 12, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” There are no ordinary workers in God’s family. We are all divinely commissioned for specific tasks He has for us. 

What does God want us to do? He wants us to use our gifts and talents for His purposes. As we do that, guided by His Spirit, we do the good works which God uniquely created us for. 

One day, when we are with Jesus in heaven, we will see the whole picture of how He uniquely created us, used us and how our daily willingness to serve Him contributed to His divine drama in our world. What to us seems ordinary will on that day be seen as extraordinary. Not because we are amazing but because He is and He chooses to use us for His purposes. You are not an ordinary worker. You are divinely commissioned for specific tasks He has for you.

Father, Thank you that in your wisdom, you take the ordinary people of this world and use them for extraordinary divine purposes. Thank you for gifting and calling me. Show me how you want to use me in your work in my corner of the world. Amen.