<p>Do not be discouraged when people write-you off because of your failures and weakness. If Michaelangelo could sculpt one of the world’s greatest masterpieces called ‘David’ from a piece of marble stone that Italian sculptor Agostino d’Antonio and others rejected, God can do greater things with you. <br /><br />God’s yardstick is not the same as the worlds’. The world may look for worthiness, but God looks for willingness. When we are willing to put ourselves into His hands, He chisels and sculpts us into something great.<br /><br />In the Old Testament, we see that Moses had a speech impediment but was chosen to lead the Israelites from slavery. Gideon had low self-confidence and was fearful but God empowered him and made him victorious in war. Jeremiah the prophet felt too young to do a prophets’ job, but God empowered him with courage and confidence. Jonah the prophet had escapist tendencies, but God chose him to bring the people of Nineveh to repentance.<br /><br />When we look at the profile of the apostles whom Jesus chose, they too were by no means of acceptable standards to be apostles. Peter was impulsive by nature. James and John called the ‘sons of thunder’ were aggressive and quick tempered. Matthew the tax-collector was the most hated because of his profession.<br /><br />The scriptures are replete with people who were chosen by God despite their frailties and weaknesses. St. Paul reminds us of how God chooses the weak and makes them strong. “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)”. <br /><br />The power above us is far greater than the power within us. The Scribes and Pharisees who considered themselves learned and wiser than the simple fisher folk, farmers and herdsmen of Jesus time could not grasp simple truths that these ordinary people could because they did not focus on the power above. Jesus even commented “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25).<br /><br />When the renowned violinist Noccolo Paganini was playing his violin at a public concert, the strings snapped one by one till only one string was left. The audience giggled. But to their amazement, Paganini continued to render the finest tunes on the one single string that remained. <br /><br />God can play his finest tunes through us despite our weaknesses and frailties if we could allow ourselves into His hands.</p>
<p>Do not be discouraged when people write-you off because of your failures and weakness. If Michaelangelo could sculpt one of the world’s greatest masterpieces called ‘David’ from a piece of marble stone that Italian sculptor Agostino d’Antonio and others rejected, God can do greater things with you. <br /><br />God’s yardstick is not the same as the worlds’. The world may look for worthiness, but God looks for willingness. When we are willing to put ourselves into His hands, He chisels and sculpts us into something great.<br /><br />In the Old Testament, we see that Moses had a speech impediment but was chosen to lead the Israelites from slavery. Gideon had low self-confidence and was fearful but God empowered him and made him victorious in war. Jeremiah the prophet felt too young to do a prophets’ job, but God empowered him with courage and confidence. Jonah the prophet had escapist tendencies, but God chose him to bring the people of Nineveh to repentance.<br /><br />When we look at the profile of the apostles whom Jesus chose, they too were by no means of acceptable standards to be apostles. Peter was impulsive by nature. James and John called the ‘sons of thunder’ were aggressive and quick tempered. Matthew the tax-collector was the most hated because of his profession.<br /><br />The scriptures are replete with people who were chosen by God despite their frailties and weaknesses. St. Paul reminds us of how God chooses the weak and makes them strong. “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-- and the things that are not-- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)”. <br /><br />The power above us is far greater than the power within us. The Scribes and Pharisees who considered themselves learned and wiser than the simple fisher folk, farmers and herdsmen of Jesus time could not grasp simple truths that these ordinary people could because they did not focus on the power above. Jesus even commented “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25).<br /><br />When the renowned violinist Noccolo Paganini was playing his violin at a public concert, the strings snapped one by one till only one string was left. The audience giggled. But to their amazement, Paganini continued to render the finest tunes on the one single string that remained. <br /><br />God can play his finest tunes through us despite our weaknesses and frailties if we could allow ourselves into His hands.</p>
