Simple Is Better – Thank God for Ordinary People

1 Corinthians 1:26-30 – My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn’t think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy.

Just in case you have forgotten, God thinks you are wonderful. Amazing. Special.

I am dead serious about this.

Too often, we think God prefers those who have great achievements. Have a name everyone knows. Prefers someone who has their name on the side of the building.

Honestly? I believe God loves underdogs. Cheers them on. Is very content and happy with people who are normal, everyday people. Just like you and me.

Just in case you have forgotten: God loves you. No matter what.

Often, we think God has a pecking order. Truth? God doesn’t work this way.

In fact, God’s pecking order would look completely different than what society says the order should be.

This is the God who stood up for the woman the Jewish leaders wanted to stone to death because she lived in adultery. Jesus healed people with leprosy, the most undesirable disease of his day. Think AIDS on steroids. This same man admired the woman who dropped her last coin into the church offering plate way more than the terribly rich man who stood at the street corner, telling everyone how generous he was.

I see God rooting for those everyone else has given up on. Loving everyone because we all need to be loved. In God’s kingdom, love is not dependent upon doing one darn thing to earn God’s love.

If we really think about God’s desire to love and cheer-on ordinary people, it can be a bit overwhelming. If we really sit with this love and realize how wonderfully radical God’s love truly is.

Human beings? We want to put all kinds of boundaries on love. Rules we think are necessary. Pecking levels and requirements for unconditional love. Jesus? He broke them all. Threw them out the window. Declare all of us as “good enough.”

Think about that. YOU are good enough.

We get disappointed with God and this colors our opinion about God. Why can’t a cure for cancer be found? Did we really need a worldwide pandemic? Why can’t people be nice to each other and get along? Before we blame God for every bad thing that happens in the world, let’s remember evil and sin pervade our society. Evil and sin that does a lot of really awful things. Every awful thing that happens is not God’s responsibility. Sometimes, God gets a lot of help from human beings.

Rather than looking for the awful in the world, this day, this weekend, this next week, look for all the amazing things people do every day.

The convenience store worker who greets people with a smile day in and day out.

The grandparent who feels like a never-ending taxi service.

The parent who feels stretched and overwhelmed.

The person who feels they have let others down even though they have made a difference.

The great listener who shows up and is the listening ear someone needs.

The compassionate soul who holds someone’s hand when they feel wronged or hurt.

The cheerleader who celebrates every little win in your life.

The person who acts likes a safety net when the world feels like it is falling apart.

God does not expect you to be fancy, always at the top of your game or invincible. Nope, God uses ordinary people, like you and me, who have a heart open to being used for God’s kingdom. God encourages us to be with one person today who simply needs a loving smile, a hug or an appropriate word in their lives.

You are valued and loved by God. You are enough. No matter what has happened in your life or what you have not done, God loves you. Period.

Read that again. God loves YOU. Period.

You are enough.

Just in case you needed to hear this today, this little message is just for YOU.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for loving me just the way I am, warts and all. Thank you for accepting me as I am. May I accept Your love and care today. Amen.

Looking for a bit of daily inspiration? Check out my daily affirmation posts on Facebook and Instagram (Dianne Deaton Vielhuber and Simple Words of Faith.)

Dianne’s Upcoming Unraveling Together Book Events:

Sun., Aug. 9 – Willow Valley United Methodist Church Worship Service, 10 AM, 24811 State Hwy 58 Richland Center, WI – located in Ithaca, WI