Show of hands: who, at some point in life, has belted out their current favorite song into a hairbrush or while in the shower? If anyone could see you at that moment, no doubt they would think you were prepping for your American Idol audition.
I don’t know about you, but despite my ability to remember every lyric to every Debbie Gibson song, I am in no way qualified to audition for American Idol, The Voice or America’s Got Talent. It’s safe to say at some time many of us have dreamt of an occupation or opportunity that looks so cool, yet know we aren’t the slightest bit qualified.
The feeling of not being properly equipped for a task, job or calling can leave us feeling less than. How many times do we turn down an opportunity, quit a new endeavor or, worse yet, never start anything new or challenging because we feel we aren’t qualified.
Too often when we look to start something new or accept a challenge, we skim the list of qualifications and immediately stall. Do any of these phrases sound familiar?
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“I don’t have that skill.”
“There’s no way I could do that.”
“I don’t have what it takes.”
Here’s the good news: if you are walking in faith, moving forward in obedience, striving toward what you feel God has called you to, there are no qualifications required.
“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NLT)
Peter and John had been out preaching the Gospel to the people of Jerusalem. The leaders of that day were particularly upset the pair was teaching near the temple about a resurrected life through Jesus, so they arrested them. It didn’t matter; people still believed, and lives were still changed. To the tune of about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.
When asked by what power or authority Peter and John preached, Peter, who was filled with the Holy Spirit, responded that the answers are all with Jesus.
Peter and John were just ordinary men – Scripture even says so. They were fishermen. They weren’t orators or pastors. Their training came on the water, by way of casting and nets.
What they did have was faith. The Scripture above says they spoke with boldness. They knew the purpose they had been called to. Even more, they knew the Caller of their lives would equip them with whatever skills, words or talents needed to achieve His purpose. Act 4:13 says the leaders could see these men had no special training. Yet they were amazed at their words and the changed lives of the people.
I believe Peter and John’s ability to carry out the purpose they were called to comes from what we see at the end of the verse. They were recognized as men who had been with Jesus. As His disciples, these men knew their Savior intimately. Trusting Him for what was needed for their calling was possible because of the time they spent with Him. While we can’t walk the dusty roads with Jesus as His disciples did, we can know him intimately. Spending time daily in prayer is a simple way to know Him. Reading and becoming familiar with Scripture gives us insight into the man and character of Jesus while sharing multiple stories and examples of why we can trust his love and faithfulness.
Peter and John walked boldly in faith and moved forward in obedience because they had been with Jesus. They knew whatever skills were needed for the job, the carpenter would supply the tools.
The call of that opportunity that keeps presenting itself or the dream that won’t go away…you don’t need to be qualified for it. Trust the caller. He is the qualification.