How God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes

God has a remarkable way of using ordinary, unlikely people to accomplish extraordinary things. Through examining Jesus' calling of his first disciples in Luke 5, we discover key principles about how God works through available and obedient people.

What Makes Someone Available for God to Use?

Being available to God means living with open hands rather than closed fists. Many of us want to surrender to God but hold back certain areas of our lives - our finances, career, family, or fears. True availability requires complete submission, saying "God, everything I have and am is yours to use as you please."

How Does God Use Ordinary Tools and People?Throughout Scripture, God consistently uses ordinary means to accomplish extraordinary purposes:

Moses’ staff

Gideon's fleece 

Water turned to wine

Loaves and fish feeding thousands

Simple fishermen becoming world-changing disciples

God often chooses what seems illogical or inadequate by human standards to display His power and glory.

Why Does Obedience Matter?

The disciples demonstrated that availability must be coupled with obedience. When Jesus told them to cast their nets in daylight (which made no logical sense for fishing), Peter responded "If you say so" despite his doubts. Their obedience led to witnessing a miracle.

How Were the Disciples Ordinary?

In Jewish culture, the disciples were considered ordinary and overlooked:

They didn't make the cut for advanced religious training

They were simple fishermen following their fathers' trade

They weren't considered "good enough" by religious leaders

Yet Jesus specifically chose these ordinary men to change the world through His power.

Life Application

God is still calling ordinary people today to follow Him and do extraordinary things. Consider:

Where are you holding back from full surrender to God?

What "logical" reasons are keeping you from obeying God's direction?

Do you believe God can use someone ordinary like you?

This week's challenge:This week, identify one area of your life where you've been holding back from God with a 'closed fist.' Make a conscious decision to surrender that area to Him and look for ways He might be calling you to serve or follow Him, even if it seems ordinary or unlikely. Take a step of obedience, trusting that He can use ordinary people and circumstances for His extraordinary purposes.

Key Takeaways

God uses people who make themselves completely available to Him

Obedience to God's calling often requires stepping out in faith even when it doesn't make logical sense

God deliberately chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things

Being used by God requires preparation and maintenance of our spiritual lives

The primary call of Jesus is simply to follow Him daily

Questions for reflection:

What areas of your life are you still holding with "closed fists"?

Where might God be calling you to obey despite it not making logical sense?

How has viewing yourself as "ordinary" held you back from following God's call?

What does it mean to live with 'open hands' versus a 'closed fist' in our relationship with God?

How do you think Peter felt when Jesus asked him to cast his nets again after a night of catching nothing?

What are some ways you might be limiting how God can use you in your life?

Why do you think God often chooses to use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things?

What does it mean to be 'available' to God in your daily life?

How can we prepare ourselves to be used by God, similar to how the fishermen maintained their nets?

What are some areas in your life where you've been trying to succeed in your own power rather than God's?

What might God be calling you to do that seems impossible or illogical from a human perspective?