Luke 6:12-16 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.”  Jesus prayed all night and then came and chose twelve apostles.  Four of the apostles were fishermen: brothers Peter and Andrew and brothers James and John.  The Bible tells us that these four were partners in the fishing business.  They had little formal education.  One might wonder how their background as fishermen would prepare them for their future work as apostles.  We know that Matthew was a tax collector.  Then there was Simon the Zealot.  This could have meant that he was a revolutionary, because the Zealots were opposed to Roman rule and domination.  But being a Zealot probably does not define his occupation but rather his political association.  We are not told about the occupations of the remainder of the apostles.  None of these men were priests; none were scribes.  Based upon what we know, their occupations did not prepare them to become apostles.  But Jesus chose them, they followed Him, and He taught and He trained them.  After His death, He gave them the Holy Spirit and sent them forth into the world; they boldly spread the gospel.  Shortly after the day of Pentecost, we have this observation by the Jewish religious leaders.  Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”  God used these uneducated and untrained men, for His glory.  Even if you are uneducated and untrained, God can use you to tell the gospel message or to serve others for His glory.

In Mark 5:1-20 we have the story of Jesus going to the country of the Gadarenes where He met a demon possessed man.  Jesus cast out the demons and they entered a herd of swine.  The swine ran down a steep hill and into the sea where they were drowned.  The man who previously had the demons was returned to his right mind. Mark 5:14-20 “So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”  Maybe you have experienced some tragedy in your life and God has brought you through the trial and you still have faith today.  Like the demon possessed man, God can use you to tell your story to others so that they can have faith and overcome their trials or be brought to Christ.  Maybe you have lost a child due to illness or accident or even suicide; you can tell others how God has been with you.  Maybe you had an addiction to drugs or alcohol and God has freed you from their control; you can tell others how God has rescued you.  Maybe you were in a bad accident or you had a great loss or you have a serious health problem; you can tell others how God helped you come through your trial.  All of us have been sinners that God has forgiven and cleansed; we each can tell others the story of our redemption.  Whatever your story, God can use you for His glory.

I encourage you to let God use you.  Don’t have the attitude that you have nothing to contribute to the furtherance of His kingdom.  Jesus gave the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30.  A man traveled to a far country and left money with three of his servants.  He gave five talents to the first, two talents to the second, and one talent to the third.  He gave to each according to their ability.  The first and second servants used the money and gained more money and were blessed by the master.  The last servant hid his master’s money and gave it back to the master.  The master called that servant wicked and lazy because he had not used the money given to him.  He concluded by saying in Matthew 25:30 “And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Whether God has given you five talents or two or one, He expects you to use your talent for His glory.  I encourage you to be willing to have God use you and work through you.

It is good to make plans for how you will serve God.  We find that the apostle Paul made plans.  But I encourage you to be open to God’s plans for you that may be different.  Paul had plans to travel to Rome to preach the gospel.  He didn’t know that God would send him to Rome as a prisoner.  But as a prisoner, he was able to tell the gospel to Caesar and his household.  In reference to another time in his live, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:12 “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord.” The Lord may also open a door for you at times.  Open doors can be any opportunity to tell the gospel or serve others and let your light shine.  It is good to even pray for open doors.

I encourage you to let God use you for His glory.  Seek ways for God to use you.  Watch for open doors where you can be of service to Him.