Throughout the pages of scripture, we see how God uses the most unlikely people. Moses who was slow in speech. Rahab who worked as a prostitute. David who committed adultery. Peter who denied Jesus three times. Paul who persecuted the church. If God can restore such people and use them for His glory and for the furtherance of His Kingdom, then God can use you.

                In 1 Timothy 1:12-17 we see Paul encouraging Timothy in His calling. This passage reminds us that God has a purpose and plan for our lives and that God can use anyone.

                God Calls. In verse 12 we see the call of God on the life of Paul. There are several things we should understand concerning the call of God. First, God calls to salvation. The Bible is very clear that only those who are drawn by the Holy Spirit can be saved. Only those whom God calls can be saved. However, it is also understood that God is in the business of calling all people to salvation. As we see in Romans chapter one, there is no excuse. God’s calling to salvation involves the mercy of God. In verse 13 we read how Paul was formerly a very wicked man. He blasphemed the name of Jesus, and he persecuted the church. He was essentially a murderer that had Christians imprisoned and killed. Yet, God had mercy on Paul. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Paul deserved to be judged and condemned by God. He deserved to be punished for his sins. But God gave Paul mercy. You and I are in the same boat. None of us deserve salvation. None of us deserve to go to Heaven. We are all depraved sinners deserving of God’s wrath. Yet, He grants mercy to all those who put their faith in Him. God’s calling to salvation also involves the grace of God. In verse 14 Paul mentions the exceeding abundance of God’s grace. As mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Think of all the things that God gives us when we put our faith in Him. He gives us peace. He gives us abundant life. He gives us forgiveness. He gives the Holy Spirit. He gives us spiritual gifts. He provides for our needs. To top it all off, He gives us an eternal home in Glory! Thank God for His mercy and grace! As we think of God’s call to salvation it not only involves His mercy and grace, but it also involves the purpose of God. It is God’s purpose that we be saved. Verse 15 Paul mentions that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I love what 2 Peter 3:9 says, “…. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” It is the very heart of God that all people come to know Him. Jesus came to this earth to pay the price of sin for the whole world. If you have never been saved, God is calling you to Himself. Why? Because He loves you and it is His will that you have your sins forgiven and be given a home in Heaven.

                Secondly, God calls to service. Everyone who puts their faith and trust in Jesus and is born-again they are also called to serve the Lord. In verse 12 we see Paul thanking God for putting Him into the ministry. There are two things we need to understand concerning God’s call on our lives to serve Him. First, God calls us to specific ministries. Every believer has been given certain spiritual gifts. Those spiritual gifts along with our personal God-given talents and abilities are to be used for the edifying of the church and for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom purposes in this world. God places us in the local church as He wills and calls us to specific areas of ministry that fits with our spiritual gifts and abilities. How do you know the specific ministry God has for you? There are four basic ways in which God confirms His call on your life to specific areas of ministry. (1) Through His Word and Prayer. As we walk with God daily and spend time in His Word and in prayer, He will guide us and reveal to us His will. (2) Through our dreams and desires. If we are walking with the Lord as we should and we are in His Word and in prayer, He will put within us certain dreams and desires. He will put within us a burden for a certain ministry and will give us a love for that area of service. (3) Through the circumstances of our lives. There are no coincidences with God. Everything He does has a purpose. You are where you are and going through what you are going through for a reason. God has a way of orchestrating the circumstances of your life to bring you to the place He wants you to be. (4) Through confirmation of other believers. As a pastor, I’ve had many occasions where there was something I felt led to do that the church did not agree with. Therefore, I had to put that aside because there was no confirmation from others. There have also been many times over the years when I had the unfortunate experience of telling someone they could not serve in a certain area of ministry. There are times when someone may come to you all excited about wanting to serve in the youth ministry, for example. Yet, they are immature in their walk with God, and they have certain issues in their own life that would make it not a good idea to turn them loose with teenagers. Confirmation from other believers is a big deal. It is a step that we must not neglect when determining God’s call on our lives for a specific area of ministry. God also calls us to specific places of ministry. God has a place for you to serve in and through a local church. That place could be the church you have attended for many years. That place could be the foreign mission field or some other place of service. Either way, God has a place for you. As the old saying goes you should “bloom where you are planted.” Be faithful and serve the Lord wherever you are.

                God Enables. In verse 12 Paul says that God enabled Him for the work of the ministry. If you ever feel or have the attitude that you are qualified or able, then you should step down. None of us are able. None of us are in a place where we are the experts, and we know better than anyone else and are more capable than someone else. It is God that enables for the work of the ministry. It is nothing that we do. It is all God. It is not the greatest and the most talented that God calls. God does not show favoritism. God calls all believers to serve Him. When He calls us, He does not leave us hanging. He places us in specific places with specific people that He uses to equip us and train us for the work. God enables the called.

                As we see in verse 17, all that God does in calling us to salvation and calling us to serve Him is all for His glory. It is not to our benefit. It is for the furtherance of His Kingdom. It is not for our resume’ or our personal gratification. It is all for the glory of God.