Our Father's love passes all understanding

It continually astounds me to look upon the love of the Father, a love that most assuredly surpasses all understanding.

For I look on my life and all the mistakes I’ve made and flaws I have within me, and I cannot help but beg the question, “why choose me, Lord?”

And it is so humbling to see those who He chose to use in the Bible. For He did not choose the great, nor the powerful, most certainly He did not call upon the perfect. No, our God called upon those who were meek, those who were humble, and those who were sinners hungry for the transformation in their lives.

Gideon was hiding, Jonah ran away, Moses was a murderer, Matthew was a tax collector, and Peter had a temper. He chose them not because of who they were or what they did, but because He had a purpose and a plan to use them in ways that would transform the world and all of history.

You see it has never been about your or my ability or talents, but it is a story about revealing His magnificent power. I am so thankful that I am unqualified because it makes it easy to be humble, nothing I do possibly can be by my own strength because, in fact, I have none. It is through Him and Him alone that we find ourselves walking in victory. Now of course in this world, we must also have the humility to accept how He may choose to use us, for our God uses many people in many different ways. Some may end up in a mansion and some on the streets, some may have a public place of ministry and others simply ministering to their families, some may be believers and get this, even some may not be, yet God still uses them for His great purpose.

"When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into?" (‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Just like this doesn’t He have every right to use one man to save thousands, and another to simply fulfill His prophecy? For even Judas was used in his betrayal of Jesus for the word says that it had to happen to fulfill the prophecy of being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. And so I must look upon my life, and where the Father has placed me on His wonderful plan with such Joy. What masterful craftsmanship that He would use me for anything. I often say, would I rather be a decorative pot on the shelf gathering dust, or a simple trash can that gets used every day? I for one am honored to be in the latter at times.

I say all this to encourage you today, to look upon your life from a heavenly perspective — in what way is God using me today? If it blesses me, praise God for He looks kindly upon me, and if it blesses Him, all the better for it furthers His kingdom. If we have the humility to release control of our life, and discard our own list of desires, we will be able to align our hearts with that of the Father and see the wondrous works that He is doing and rejoice. Lord, not my will, but yours be done.

Justin Gardner pastors at River of Life Fellowship, 702 Church St., Sandpoint. The church can be reached at 208-255-7111.