In 2012, a church challenged the children in its Vacation Bible School (VBS) to do something unique: raise $1,750 to dig a freshwater well for a village in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. By the end of VBS they had raised $5,000, almost enough for three wells. The kids’ faith and energy inspired the entire church to get behind the project resulting in $17,500—enough for ten wells.
Seasoned, elderly saints know full well what impossible means. But they have seen God use them to make a difference. For them, age is not a barrier—it’s a qualifier!
Take these two seasoned saints, for example: an 84-year-old retired banker and a 74-year-old retired doctor. They both learned about Search for Jesus, an Internet-based evangelism ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. These volunteers serve as online chat counselors, connecting with people inquiring about having a relationship with Christ.
Beverly, the retired banker, was inspired by Psalm 92:14. After some basic training in counseling and computer skills, she was ready. Bill, the retired physician, likes the online ministry because it allows him to tend to his cattle ranch while having a ministry at the same time. Technology has provided ministry opportunities for these retirees that would have been unknown just a few years ago.
You Are Qualified!
Every Christian—is qualified to be a difference maker for Christ. If you are a Christian, born again into God’s Kingdom through faith in Christ, you are qualified to make a difference for Him.
I know—all of us think we’re not qualified to do much of anything. That’s the story of the Kingdom of God:
•Moses didn’t think he was qualified to stand before Pharaoh and say, “Let God’s people go!” (Exodus 3:1–4:17)
•Gideon didn’t think he was qualified to defeat the Midianites. (Judges 6:15)
•Mary didn’t think she was qualified to become the mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:26-34)
•Saul of Tarsus couldn’t imagine he was qualified to become an apostle of the Messiah he had been persecuting. (Acts 9:1-16; 1 Timothy 1:15)
Truth be told, all of those people were right; all their skepticism was well-founded. Their ages, skill levels, lack of bravery, unrighteousness—all that and more made them unqualified to serve God from a human point of view. Yet what happened? God made them qualified, by His grace, to accomplish something important for Him.
What is impossible for man is always possible with God. Regardless of your personal profile, God has qualified you to serve Him.
If you truly believe in God’s providential shepherding of your life, then you must believe that who you are and where you are today means you are qualified to make a difference for Him.
You Are Quantified!
In a sense, our life is a numbers “game”—there are many parts of our life that can be quantified, measured, or listed that can help us see how God might want to use us. Think of your life in terms of the following: age, gender, location, education, time availability, skills, natural talents, spiritual gifts, life experience, desires and preferences, financial resources, and more.
You could write down very specific data about each of those points that define who you are today. And who God has led you to be today suggests what you are qualified to do starting tomorrow.
God’s promises let us know that we can make a huge difference in our world for Christ:
•God has created us for a purpose (Psalm 139:13-16).
•God is at work in us to accomplish His good purposes (Philippians 2:13).
•God will complete through us what He has called us to do (Philippians 1:6).
•God will use everything in our life to qualify us to serve Him (Romans 8:28).
•God increases our qualifications by allowing us to suffer (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
•God will open doors for us to walk through (Acts 16:6-10).
•God will use all our difference-making for Him to make a difference in us—to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
Take a few moments to create a personal profile of your own life. Who are you today? On the path of your life so far, how has God equipped you? What difference are you making for Him today? What differences could you make tomorrow?
Stand on God’s promises and find your place—the place where you can make a difference for Him.
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David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about David Jeremiah, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.
