Chosen to Throw Stones
Chosen to Throw Stones: Your Ordinary can be Extraordinary
Have you ever felt insignificant, overlooked, or unqualified for greatness? Perhaps you've wondered if God could really use someone like you to make a difference in the world. The truth is, God delights in choosing the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Throughout history, He has consistently selected unlikely candidates to carry out His divine purposes.
Consider the story of David, a young shepherd boy who faced the giant Goliath. At just 12 years old, David stood before a seasoned warrior who had terrorized an entire army. Armed with nothing but a sling and a few stones, David declared, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (1 Samuel 17:45)
What gave David such boldness? It wasn't his physical strength or military training. It was his intimate knowledge of God – a deep, experiential understanding of God's character and power. The Hebrew word "yada" captures this concept perfectly. It goes beyond mere intellectual knowledge, implying a personal, relational understanding gained through experience and intimacy.
David's confidence came from years of quiet moments in the fields, where he had experienced God's protection and provision. Those seemingly mundane hours of tending sheep had prepared him for this pivotal moment. Every stone he had thrown to protect his flock had honed his skill for this divine appointment.
This story challenges us to reframe our perspective on our daily lives and occupations. God doesn't always call us to change our jobs or circumstances to use us. Instead, He often works through our existing skills, experiences, and positions to display His glory. The question is: are we willing to offer what we have, however ordinary it may seem, for His extraordinary purposes?
Jesus himself chose disciples from unexpected places. His first followers weren't religious leaders or scholars, but fishermen from rural, less-respected areas. These were individuals society might have overlooked, yet Jesus saw their potential and called them to change the world.
The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are."
This divine pattern of choosing the unlikely serves a profound purpose: to make it unmistakably clear that the power comes from God, not human ability or status. When we step out in faith, relying on God's strength rather than our own, we become living testimonies to His reality and goodness.
But here's the crucial part: being chosen requires a response. The parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22 illustrates this beautifully. While many are called (invited), few become chosen. The chosen are those who accept the invitation, prepare themselves, and show up ready to participate in what God is doing.
Responding to God's call often requires courage. It means facing our "Goliaths" – whether they're external challenges or internal fears and doubts. It means being willing to look foolish in the world's eyes, trusting that God's wisdom surpasses human understanding.
So, what does it mean practically to "throw your stone" in today's world? It might mean:
1. Using your professional skills to serve others and glorify God in your workplace.
2. Offering words of encouragement or prayer to someone in need, even if you feel inadequate.
3. Stepping out to lead or serve in your local community or church, despite feeling unqualified.
4. Sharing your testimony of God's work in your life, even if it seems ordinary to you.
5. Giving generously, trusting God to provide, even when it doesn't make sense financially.
Remember, your "stone" – your unique combination of skills, experiences, and circumstances – has been crafted by God for a specific purpose. Don't underestimate its potential impact when placed in the hands of the Almighty.
As you consider your role in God's grand narrative, reflect on these powerful truths:
1. You are chosen and deeply valued by God (1 Peter 2:9).
2. Your ordinary life can be a stage for God's extraordinary work (Colossians 3:23-24).
3. God's power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. Your faith and obedience can inspire others to recognize God's reality (1 Samuel 17:46).
The key is to cultivate that deep, experiential knowledge of God – the "yada" – through consistent time in His presence, in His Word, and in step with His Spirit. As you do, you'll find yourself more attuned to His voice and more confident in His ability to work through you.
Today, you stand at a crossroads. Will you embrace your identity as one chosen by God? Will you pick up your stone – whatever that may represent in your life – and step out in faith? The world desperately needs to see demonstrations of God's power and love. Your act of courage, your step of faith, your offered "stone" could be the very thing God uses to bring breakthrough, not just in your life, but in the lives of countless others.
Remember the words of Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
God is able and willing to do immeasurably more than you can imagine. The question is: are you willing to throw your stone and watch Him work? Your ordinary may just become the stage for His extraordinary. Step out in faith today, and prepare to be amazed at what God can do through a willing heart fully surrendered to Him.
Have you ever felt insignificant, overlooked, or unqualified for greatness? Perhaps you've wondered if God could really use someone like you to make a difference in the world. The truth is, God delights in choosing the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Throughout history, He has consistently selected unlikely candidates to carry out His divine purposes.
Consider the story of David, a young shepherd boy who faced the giant Goliath. At just 12 years old, David stood before a seasoned warrior who had terrorized an entire army. Armed with nothing but a sling and a few stones, David declared, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied." (1 Samuel 17:45)
What gave David such boldness? It wasn't his physical strength or military training. It was his intimate knowledge of God – a deep, experiential understanding of God's character and power. The Hebrew word "yada" captures this concept perfectly. It goes beyond mere intellectual knowledge, implying a personal, relational understanding gained through experience and intimacy.
David's confidence came from years of quiet moments in the fields, where he had experienced God's protection and provision. Those seemingly mundane hours of tending sheep had prepared him for this pivotal moment. Every stone he had thrown to protect his flock had honed his skill for this divine appointment.
This story challenges us to reframe our perspective on our daily lives and occupations. God doesn't always call us to change our jobs or circumstances to use us. Instead, He often works through our existing skills, experiences, and positions to display His glory. The question is: are we willing to offer what we have, however ordinary it may seem, for His extraordinary purposes?
Jesus himself chose disciples from unexpected places. His first followers weren't religious leaders or scholars, but fishermen from rural, less-respected areas. These were individuals society might have overlooked, yet Jesus saw their potential and called them to change the world.
The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are."
This divine pattern of choosing the unlikely serves a profound purpose: to make it unmistakably clear that the power comes from God, not human ability or status. When we step out in faith, relying on God's strength rather than our own, we become living testimonies to His reality and goodness.
But here's the crucial part: being chosen requires a response. The parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22 illustrates this beautifully. While many are called (invited), few become chosen. The chosen are those who accept the invitation, prepare themselves, and show up ready to participate in what God is doing.
Responding to God's call often requires courage. It means facing our "Goliaths" – whether they're external challenges or internal fears and doubts. It means being willing to look foolish in the world's eyes, trusting that God's wisdom surpasses human understanding.
So, what does it mean practically to "throw your stone" in today's world? It might mean:
1. Using your professional skills to serve others and glorify God in your workplace.
2. Offering words of encouragement or prayer to someone in need, even if you feel inadequate.
3. Stepping out to lead or serve in your local community or church, despite feeling unqualified.
4. Sharing your testimony of God's work in your life, even if it seems ordinary to you.
5. Giving generously, trusting God to provide, even when it doesn't make sense financially.
Remember, your "stone" – your unique combination of skills, experiences, and circumstances – has been crafted by God for a specific purpose. Don't underestimate its potential impact when placed in the hands of the Almighty.
As you consider your role in God's grand narrative, reflect on these powerful truths:
1. You are chosen and deeply valued by God (1 Peter 2:9).
2. Your ordinary life can be a stage for God's extraordinary work (Colossians 3:23-24).
3. God's power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. Your faith and obedience can inspire others to recognize God's reality (1 Samuel 17:46).
The key is to cultivate that deep, experiential knowledge of God – the "yada" – through consistent time in His presence, in His Word, and in step with His Spirit. As you do, you'll find yourself more attuned to His voice and more confident in His ability to work through you.
Today, you stand at a crossroads. Will you embrace your identity as one chosen by God? Will you pick up your stone – whatever that may represent in your life – and step out in faith? The world desperately needs to see demonstrations of God's power and love. Your act of courage, your step of faith, your offered "stone" could be the very thing God uses to bring breakthrough, not just in your life, but in the lives of countless others.
Remember the words of Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
God is able and willing to do immeasurably more than you can imagine. The question is: are you willing to throw your stone and watch Him work? Your ordinary may just become the stage for His extraordinary. Step out in faith today, and prepare to be amazed at what God can do through a willing heart fully surrendered to Him.
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