Are You Everybody, Somebody, Anybody or Nobody?

“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27-29.

Who can God use? Who should God use? Whose job is it to be used by God, anyway? Everybody was sure that somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was everybody’s job. Everybody thought anybody could do it, but nobody realized that everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that everybody blamed somebody when nobody did what anybody could have done. Confusing, yes it is. And while this is obviously a story, it is a story that plays out often in churches and followers of Jesus all over the world. 

We are all everybody, somebody, who often thinks we are a nobody when God knocks on our door with something He wants done. Our response is often, “Lord anybody but me.” After all, we did not go to an Ivy League school like somebody we know; we can’t sing beautifully like everybody does in church; Anybody you point to has more skills and talents than I have. Nobody has less confidence, is less bold than I am. So…why me Lord? And the older I get, the more it seems like everybody has something going for them. Everybody has things figured out. Everyone but me that is.

I want to be close to God. I want to make a difference in the lives of somebody, anybody in fact. But how can I do that when I am a nobody? The fact is God made you exactly the way you were supposed to be. Flaws and all. Insecurities and all. No “special” abilities and all. And God can use anybody, everybody and nobody if they have a desire to be used by Him. Because that’s when God steps in.

I am continually amazed at the work God has done in people not because they are the most confident or talented, but because they were willing to fulfill God’s plan for their life. The “no, I can’t do that” changed to “Ok God, if that is what you want.” Things that were tough in the beginning now come easy to them. They look back and wonder why they were so afraid. No, they were not magically changed into somebody who had it all together. They were not somebody who learned how to preach or how to sing. They were not suddenly somebody without any doubts and insecurities about having the abilities they need to do what God wants them to do. Over time they learned that God can do amazing things when they surrender their desires, weaknesses, and abilities to Him.

They stopped pointing their fingers at everybody, somebody and anybody else, and asking “God, why isn’t that me?”

Discussion Questions:

1. Who are some unlikely people you’ve seen God use in big ways? What can you learn from the way God has used them?
2. God can do anything so why is hard to believe that He can do things through us?