Here I Am!

"... few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy, when God called you." 1 Cor. 1:26

This verse goes on to say that God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, the weak to shame the strong, and the lowly and despised to shame those who count for something. God's economy, what He considers important is very different from ours. I think of Saint Francis of Assisi who removed his expensive clothes and donned a coarse peasant's robe to roam the streets of Assisi begging for food. He did not remain alone for long, but became a force to reckon with. 

Sometimes we think of ourselves as of no consequence. But God never thinks thus. Each one of us is precious in His eyes, beloved, cherished. It does not take beauty or wealth or intelligence for us to count in God's scheme of things. We do not have to be Miss Universe, a nuclear scientist, or even a Mother Teresa or Saint Francis. He can use us just as we are. Do we consider ourselves not so smart? He can use us. Are we foolish and weak? He can use us. 

What counts is we make ourselves available. "Here I am, Lord, use me!" Are we brave enough to say that?  Christine Caine was. But the start of her journey with God was shaky. She had been sexually abused several times when she was young and thought of herself deep down as used goods, that God would never want her. Today she and her husband Nick are fearless crusaders. They founded the A21 Campaign, a worldwide anti- human trafficking organization that seeks to end slavery in the 21st century. 

Lord, use me Lord for a mission greater than myself. Nothing is impossible with You!