Growing-up in Australia as a young immigrant child had me believing I was a less than an ordinary person… a nobody of little worth. Constant bullying, ridicule, rejection, and a lack of self-confidence reinforced that belief. Before encountering the Lord in a simple life-transforming way, on my best days, I saw myself no better than “an accident looking for someplace new to happen.” Thankfully, that poor self-image now lies buried deep… deep in the distant past where it belongs.

 
Scripture and the Holy Spirit have played a major role in enabling me to see myself as I should, from God’s perspective… not as others see me…  not as I see myself. From cover to cover, the Bible features an extraordinary Creator-God partnering with ordinary people. The awesome deeds and events of God involving earthly people never ceases to amaze me. My amazement does not so much result from appreciating God’s extraordinary nature and infinite power, but rather from God choosing ordinary, weak people to participate in His extraordinary plans. What an “ah-ha” revelation that has been for me! I no longer see myself as I once did… a worthless and insignificant nobody.
 
Throughout the pages of history God has used ordinary people. He used Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Ruth, Esther, Joseph and Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Apostles… and many, many others who deserve noble mention. Note: In each case, God deliberately chose people who did not see themselves as being important or special. He used garden variety people… the young and old, the weak and broken, the fearful and fragile. Why did/does He do this?  Here are several reasons: Firstly, God alone receives the glory He so rightly deserves; Secondly, God gets the recognition as being God Almighty; Thirdly, believers experience His awesome presence and power subjectively, and objectively they witness extraordinary things taking place in the lives of others; Fourthly, being used by God validates and inspires greater faith, sacrifice and courage; Fifthly, the world is attracted to Emmanuel… “God with us” at work in the lives of ordinary people, like me!
 
Friends, make no mistake, God uses us, not because He needs us! In the Book of Acts, Doctor Luke recorded… ^“human hands can’t serve His [God’s] needs—for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need” (17:25). Yes, God doesn’t need me, or you!
 
I consider myself in the same class of people that Paul wrote about in First Corinthians: “God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God” (1:28-29). “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1:26-27).
 
Here’s something that may surprise you–A close examination of Jesus’ life reveals that, by choice,  His life would be classed by society as less than ordinary: Firstly, Isaiah prophesied of Jesus, “There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him” (53:2); Secondly, Jesus was born an illegitimate child in a stable of an inn at Bethlehem… a small, insignificant town in Judah; Thirdly, Jesus was an unlettered teacher; and Fourthly, He possessed only the clothing He wore on His back.  Yet, even though Jesus was considered to be a “less-than” ordinary person, the Holy Spirit was pleased to indwell and empower Him at His baptism to serve and fulfil the will of God, His Father (Mk.1:9-11).
 
Danniebelle Hall, an American gospel musician and recording artist, wrote a song, entitled “Just ordinary people.” The lyrics of the song are beautiful … powerfully uplifting those who see themselves as people of low or no significance. The words of the first and last verse of the song testify…
 
God uses ordinary people. He chooses people, just like me and you who are willing to do as he commands. God uses people that will give him all no matter how small your all may seem to you because little becomes much as you place it in the master’s hands.

Just like that little lad who gave Jesus all he had. How the multitude was fed with a fish and loaves of bread. What you have may not seem much but when you yield it to the touch of the Master’s loving hand then you will understand how your life could never be the same. Little becomes much as you place it in the Master’s hands.

 Friends, the amazing events of my 46 years of following after and serving the Lord bears convincing testimony that little becomes much as “ordinary people” place their lives in the Master’s hands.

Best wishes
Bill