What kinds of people does God use to do his work? We all know our past mistakes. Can God use people like us who often fail him? My friend says, “God can hit a straight lick with a crooked stick.” In the book of Acts, we discover that the Holy Spirit empowered Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, to preach at Pentecost. Where Luke leaves the story, Peter has denied Jesus and then encountered the risen Lord.
In between Luke and Acts, the early church placed the Gospel of John. There in the last chapter, we read about Jesus’ restoration of Peter. “Do you love me?” the Master asked three times. Peter said he loved Jesus. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Now this man who has been broken by his own sin and healed by God’s grace, took the lead.
What made the difference? The indwelling Holy Spirit has sanctified Peter and filled the big fisherman with conviction. Confidently he stood and preached to the people of Jerusalem. He corrected their misconception. The preachers that day were not drunk with wine but filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter pointed to the book of Joel and showed how God had promised to send his Holy Spirit in the last days, empowering his church.
God used Peter mightily that day. Later he would use Paul. Throughout the scriptures, we see God using the most unlikely people to do his work. Why does he do that? When God mends broken vessels and fills them with power, he knows that they will never take the glory for themselves. They know it took the grace of God to use them. It takes the same grace to make any of us useful. What kinds of people does God use to do his work? The ones he has redeemed. Like Peter. Like Paul. Like you. Like me.
