A few months ago I had a conversation with a couple of our college students about their future. A young man and his girlfriend had come to discuss getting involved in some kind of volunteer work.  They both mentioned the fact that they like to help people, especially less fortunate folks who others may not be inclined to help. In the course of our discussion, I asked them if they had ever thought about doing ministry in the church or out in the mission fields. Once I had asked the question there was a rather long period of silence. Finally the young woman spoke up.  “We would love to do some kind of ministry but we don’t think we are very good examples of people who are close to God. Then they went on to tell me that they weren’t particularly “churchy” people. In fact, both of them went to great lengths to tell me just how un-churchy they were. They began to list all of the things that they did which the church or God may not really approve of them doing. “We hope we are not shocking you, but we don’t really feel good enough to do work for God. We just like to help people.”

  In the end, they decided for the time being to work in a soup kitchen.

 A few days after our meeting, I came across a little card that someone had given me which has a sentence written in bold letters across the top: “SO YOU THINK YOU’RE UNWORTHY”

Below that sentence are these thoughts: “If you think that you are not good enough and unfit to be a disciple and that God could not use you or would not choose you, think again. If you read through the Bible you will soon learn just what kind of people God chooses to do his work: Noah was a drunk...Abraham was old and used up…Isaac was a daydreamer…Jacob a terrible liar and a cheat…Leah was down right ugly…Joseph was hated even by his own brothers…Moses was a murderer…Elijah was suicidal…Isaiah ran around preaching naked in the streets…Jonah ran away from God…Job was a loser who lost everything he ever owned…John the Baptist ate bugs…Peter denied Jesus three times…the apostles feel asleep while praying…Martha worried about everything and complained about everything too… Mary Magdalene was possessed by a demon…the Samaritan woman was divorced several times, Zacchaeus was a runt…Paul was arrogant and pushy…Timothy had stomach troubles…and Lazarus was, well, dead.  God used all of them and did wonderful work through each of them.”

 Is God calling you to do some work for him? Do you hear the call, but feel a bit unworthy or not good enough?  Perhaps it’s time to think again. You may be just the person god needs to do some great work. Why not take a chance and try to respond to that call?