Beyond the standards of this world

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:5). This is a very common scripture to most of us especially those born again. But if you are not born again but were born in a church going home and you attended Sunday school or a Christian Religious Education Studies class, then you’ve heard of it. This verse is so real and alive (ok, every word of God is alive and real, but i like this specific one). God told these words to Jeremiah when He wanted him to realize he had been created for a purpose; which was to be a prophet. 

Today, this word is so much applicable to us. God created us not just to eat, grow up, make money, get married, have kids and then die, no. He had a greater reason/purpose for us. Now you see, many of us, especially the born again have found out what our purpose is. However, we have failed to follow it for various reasons. I don’t know what your reason is, but as for Jeremiah it was that he was so young and that he could not speak. Maybe it was out of fear or the thought that he was not worthy enough to be used by God. I remember because of fear I could never speak because I had so much fear and I thought that I was not capable of saying anything good. Even after I realized my purpose, I always told myself that there was someone else better who could do it.

Our feeling of being unworthy and fear that has hinders us from living our purpose did not begin yesterday. It existed even during the time of Moses, Jeremiah, David and all other great people in the Bible. Remember the story of Moses when God called him to go and deliver the Israelites from Egypt (am sure you read that too in Exodus 3), Moses undermined himself. He had an excuse that he could not speak well. It is so true that he could not speak well; he had also killed an Egyptian before so he was a murderer and you know what else? He had also married a foreigner which was against God’s instructions to the Israelites (Exodus 2:11-25).  God used Rahab too who was a prostitute. She had lost so much value and respect in the eyes of her people that she could entertain two men at the same time. But God still used her. David the shepherd boy who was not counted has one of the capable sons for anointing by a prophet became a king (1 Samuel 16).

All these and many other great people had a reason (a ‘serious’ reason for that matter) not to serve.  But they chose to serve God. They realized that their purpose was beyond their lives, beyond what they felt about themselves or even beyond what people had made them be. It was under Moses’ leadership that God fulfilled the promise about Canaan that he had made to Abraham (Genesis 15). Jericho which was the last and great obstacle for the Israelites before they got to Canaan was destroyed because Rahab allowed the spies to stay in her home as they surveyed the place (Joshua 2). And as for David, God used him in a mighty way. I have to mention that I can’t do without those Psalms, they have made me grow. In addition to this, his story is great and an example to so many of us and has contributed to the growth of our Christian faith.

Today I want you to realize how much value you have in God. You need to stop valuing yourself by the standards of this world of your physical appearance, you speech, level of education, money and so many other things that the world defines you with. The Bible in Exodus 4:11-12 says that he created the lame and the blind too. All these however do not matter to God, what matters is that you are so much valuable and worthy in His kingdom and he created you for a purpose that should never be undermined by little and meaningless standards. You therefore have to pursue this  purpose without excuse.

God bless you.