Who Am I To Be Used By God?

They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? (Acts 2:7-8 NASB)

Every time I have gone over this passage, I have wondered how they knew the group was from Galilee rather than "local" or whatever.  A miracle of speaking and hearing is performed, yet in a Galilean "twang"?  It just seems interesting that the crowd could tell.  I thought maybe John was wearing a tee-shirt with "Property of Sea of Tiberius" or "Fish Galilee" or "Zebedee's Fresh Fish Company".

I have often wondered what made it obvious.  From the statement it had to be obvious, so what was it?  Because that piece of information, that detail, factored into the amazement and astonishment of the crowd.  Sure they were hearing the great wonders of God in their own dialect, but from Galileans?  Now that was crazy.  The fact that they were Galilean removed any support for another explanation, it had to be divine. 

But why was that?  Are there no schools in Galilee?  Are there no teachers, mentors, or tutors?  Are the only schools in Jerusalem?  What about immigrants?  Couldn't immigrants from other regions explain a plethora linguistic ability?  There were so few that it wouldn't?  So, I return to Nathaniel's statement from John 1:46, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"  That was one place within a larger region, and Nathaniel was from the region, a Galilean shore-town named Bethsaida, like Philip, Peter and Andrew.  So even within the "Region of Illiteracy" there were places worse than others.  It seems Jesus Himself was from one of the worst.

Regardless of what made it obvious, it was a detail that contributed to the shock of the event for the crowd.  And I move on to wonder if that too was part of the design of my Master?  In using such obviously unqualified people, wouldn't the event have to be a work of the Maker of the universe?  In choosing such a group no one else would choose, my Master makes His mark indelible; it can't be missed, and it can't be otherwise explained.

So, am I, with all my failures; physical, moral and spiritual; one who glorifies my King through my weaknesses?  Sort of.  To the extent I am redeemed from my moral failures, yes.  To the extent that the work demonstrates spiritual growth and faith, yes.  But not through moral and spiritual failure, that isn't what displays the glory of my Master.  These illiterate speakers of various languages were not pointed out because they were excluded by their God, but because they would not be expected to speak anything but Aramaic, maybe some simple Greek to conduct business, and a few phrases in Latin to stay out of trouble; the common language of the day.  No one would expect them to speak the specific language and dialect of Phrygia.

So, yes, my Master can use one such as me for His glory.  He can make His handiwork obvious in the process, and it can clearly overshadow me in every way.  But He will do so when my guilt and shame are not what make it unusual or what competes for the attention.  Or will He?  My only comfort at this point is David.  Other than him, I don't know of an obvious sinner used by my Master.  In fact David was really a moral failure only after attaining the great blessings of God as king.  Perhaps his son, Solomon would also be an example.  I really can't rely on those though.  They were examples of what not to do, and that's not really the example I want to give.  Sure they are also examples of God's redemption and use of "broken vessels", but still, there was a sense of repentance and change that made the story of their moral failures able to be told.

Will my Master use me?  He can.  I hope He will.  I hope people will hear or see something in me and say, "That's impossible!  What can it mean?"  It would be awesome and humbling for people to see me and hear me, but not be distracted by me; to be able to be ignored so my Master can shine forth.  That would be really cool.  More than likely God will not be using me in this way, it would just be cool.  Maybe I should invest in a shirt from Galilee?

The Long View...Again

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  And you know the way where I am going."

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.  If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
(John 14:1-7 NASB)

Jesus is encouraging His disciples after a long tough week.  But even now, they don't really get it.  Jesus isn't surprised, but He needs to "front-load" them to lead His people after He ascends back to His Father.  So, to encourage them, He points them to where He is going, telling them they will one day be there too.

That is the key for me.  Knowing Jesus is the "way, truth, and life" only makes sense with heaven in view.  In fact my life only makes sense with heaven in view.  One day I will be present before the great alabaster throne of Yahweh beholding the uninhibited glory of my Master.  What can possibly compare with that?

My lovely wife is away on a business trip, and I'm lonely.  The house is quiet, and will be most of the day (until the dogs bark anyway).  Yet, I'm not purposeless, I'm headed somewhere.  I may not like this day and what's in it, but I'm not home yet either.  One day I will live in a house with many dwelling places (and therefore lots of very close neighbors).  One day my Master will come back to take me along with Him so that I might be where He is.  One day makes today endurable, but also full of joy and hope.

When I encounter people unacquainted with Jesus, they are supposed to be bewildered by my hope.  I wonder how often that happens.  Do they notice my hope?  Does joy characterize my life in general, and with others specifically (including my family)?  Essentially, do people wonder about me in a way that does not necessarily draw attention to me, but what's going on with me?  Like a vagrant or transient, do they wonder what happened to me without really wanting to get involved and know my name? 

I'd have to say no at this point.  I need this long view more in my life.  I have tried to gain it through astronomy, and that does provide a glimpse of the amazing wonders millions of years old by the time I see them.  But it's not quite like focusing on the path to heaven.  I believe in heaven, and I have faith in heaven.  Yet, while faith enables me to get there, it's love that enables me to bring friends.  Do others see hope and joy in me and wonder about it?  Do I love them?  Or is my day and week about me?  Heaven help me!