In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke 1:26-33 ESV
When Elizabeth was six months pregnant with her son, John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel, who had appeared to her, payed a visit to her young relative, Mary. Mary was an ordinary girl who was probably in her mid-teens, and she lived with her family in the small town of Nazareth. When Gabriel appeared to her, she was startled — who wouldn’t be! He calls her “favored woman”, indicating someone receiving grace. Gabriel elaborates by telling her that she as found favor with God (verse 30). An ordinary girl had been handpicked by God to accomplish His will! It is amazing how God uses ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purpose.
Think about the lives of Noah, Sarai and Abram, Joseph, Moses, Aaron and Miriam, Ruth, Joshua, Rahab — and on and on. We look up to these people as heroes of faith, but honestly, they were ordinary people that God saw fit to use just as they were.
God is still appointing everyday people to carry out His perfect will. We don’t always understand it because we humans can make a mess out of things. But God can and will use anyone who will say “yes” to His call.
How does God desire to use you to accomplish His purpose? Look back in your life and see the evidence of His gracious hand working in your life. Everyone is called to serve. What ministry or service has God handpicked for you? In your prayers, will you ask God show you how He wants you to serve?