Who does God call into ministry for Him? Is it only the well spoken, the educated, the wealthy, or those with great influence?
The Bible answers these questions by telling us the story of two men who were possessed by demons. They were the terror of their town, and their lives had become degraded and seemingly worthless … yet Jesus saw something more in them. He saw that in their hearts they desired to be free and made whole again.
We can be thankful that is all the Holy Spirit needs to set the love and power of God in motion for the personal salvation of any human being. And when Jesus had cast out their tormentors, He bid them to tell the world what God had done for them. There were no shopping trips for better clothes and no fancy reference letters.
The book Ministry of Healing details this story in hopeful and uplifting tones: “The two restored demoniacs were the first missionaries whom Christ sent forth to teach the gospel in the region of Decapolis. Not one sermon from His lips had ever fallen upon their ears. They could not instruct the people, as the disciples who had been daily with Christ were able to do. But they could tell what they knew; what they themselves had seen, and heard, and felt of the Savior’s power. This is what everyone can do whose heart has been touched by the grace of God. This is the witness for which our Lord calls, and for want of which the world is perishing.”
So who has God called into ministry for Him? He has called those who have seen and felt God’s love and power in their lives and who have heard His call upon their hearts. Every human being has a unique life story, individual perspectives, varied genetics, and diverse life experiences that contribute to the gifts they can bring to the body of Christ and to a world in need. The Bible is full of stories like this one of the humble, the undeserving, the forgotten, the discarded, and the ordinary doing great things for God.
We have all been called, but many people still have fears about sharing their talents or witnessing to others. Many worry, “What if I don’t have anything interesting or unique to say? What if my gifts are not useful or I don’t explain something correctly? What if someone else could do the job better?”
God understands all this. The Bible explains God’s perspective on these issues and His reasons for calling all believers. Isaiah 43:10 says, “ ‘You are My witnesses’, says the Lord, ‘And MY servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.’” So it is because we are imperfect, because we don’t know everything, that we are called. Jesus wants everyone who wants to know, understand, and believe in Him to be His witnesses.
Research and behavioral science has long shown that people learn more by teaching and doing than they learn by being taught. Could it be that God has called each one of us to share our testimonies of what God has done for us, not just for a world in need, but also for our own spiritual experience and walk with God? Sinners saved by grace are brought into a deeper knowledge and experience with Him by sharing their gifts with others. So what’s your story? What has God done for you?