Chosen Vessels

God’s Chosen Vessels

Acts 9:19- 31

By Kurai Chitima

Countless examples make clear that God calls and uses inadequate/imperfect people. Why does God choose imperfect people like Saul of Tarsus? He does so because that is all he has available. He does not choose the perfect but perfects the chosen. He chooses based on his love, faithfulness and purpose. Based on the nature and merit of the chooser not that of the chosen (2 Corinthians 12:9, Deuteronomy 7:7, Ephesians 2:8, 9, Hebrew 4:16, John 15:16, Galatians 1:15). This is why many were puzzled at the choice of Saul (Acts 9:13, 14, 21). Apart from the grace of God, none of us would qualify.  By mercy, God withholds what we deserve. By grace, he gives us what we do not deserve. The entire work of God to humanity is of grace. Faith is the means by which humanity receives God’s grace. The grace of God is unmerited favor. It is getting what you do not deserve. It is God’s enablement. It is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  Christ paid in full for all your past, present and future.  When God asks you to do something, you have been highly favored. The call comes with grace that matches the task.

Grace for the wrongs done.        Helps you to start well.

Paul became a fruitful servant of God because God forgave his past wrongs. His past was gone and he was a brand new person (2 Corinthians 5:17, 7:2; 1 John 1:9).    He could say I am no longer the person you knew who persecuted the church. Be honest to God about your sins/weaknesses/shortcomings. Your past wrongs if you turn away from them do not disqualify you from obeying him in what he wants you to do. The grace was however given not for you to continue sinning but to enable you to stop sinning (John 8:11; Romans 6:1, 11).  Receive forgiveness by faith and start doing what God wants (Acts 9:20, 22).

Grace for the work            Helps you to run your course well.

God’s work is an outflow of his grace in the life of his servants. Your call is to be an ambassador of Christ. God’s call comes with assurance of his presence ‘I will be with you’ (Exodus 4:12, Jeremiah 1:8, Judges 6:16, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).   In other words, God’s promise is - I will be your ability and all that you need. All that God is and has is at your disposal. We are well able to do God’s will in our homes, jobs, businesses, studies, etc (Numbers 13:30).

Grace for the valleys/wilderness.            Helps you to finish well.

By God’s grace, we can accomplish and complete all that God wants us to do. Every act of obedience has a promise but it also faces a valley before the promise. When you obey God’s call you will face challenges, set backs, trials, delays, threats, times of ‘lost signal’ and temptation to give up. Hold on to your confession of faith (Hebrew 10:23). Remember the hope of your calling (Ephesians 1:18). Ability to hold on to one’s faith as individuals and as a young church in Johannesburg in face of hopelessness and resistance determines whether one finishes well or at all. Paul despite suspicions and life threats he grew stronger in preaching Christ (Acts 9:21, 23, 26, 29; 2 Corinthians 4:8). God was with him to provide the support he needed (Acts 9:25, 27, 30). He was helped to escape through an opening on the city walls in a basket. Excitement of getting started has to give way to the faith and discipline of the process to achieving God’s call. Are you becoming weary of well doing? Be encouraged by Paul’s example (2 Timothy 4:7, 8). Move on with trust and focus on God and his promise will see you through. Do not doubt in darkness what you saw in the light.