The Heart Over The Appearance

Ever felt like you weren't enough? We may need to be richer and more popular to make a difference. Let’s talk about how God picks His team.

Mary and Joseph, when presenting Jesus in the temple, brought an offering - not a grand one like a lamb, but two pigeons. Why pigeons? According to the Old Testament in Lev. 12:6-8, a woman had to offer a sacrifice after childbirth. The ideal offering was a lamb, but if someone couldn't afford it, they could bring two pigeons or turtledoves instead. And that's what Mary and Joseph did. This shows they weren't wealthy, but guess what? God still chose them to be the parents of His Son, Jesus. It makes you think.

God chose them to raise His Son. Why them? Because God isn't like us. He doesn't go, "Hey, who's the richest or the most famous here?" Instead, He asks, "Who has the right heart?"

You might remember David, the shepherd boy. When God was looking for a king, He didn't go for the tall, muscular, model-type brothers. He went for the young lad, David. Why? You guessed it: because of his heart* (1 Sam. 16:7). *It wasn't about his ability to rule, but his availability to God.

God can do amazing things through anyone who is willing. At one event, D. L. Moody overheard a preacher claim, "The world hasn't truly seen the power of a single soul fully devoted to God." Feeling a spark, Moody responded, "With God's backing, I'll be that soul." This uneducated man went on to shake three continents with his zeal for God.

So, here's the big question for you today: Are you available? You don't have to be the smartest, the richest, or the most famous. And if you make yourself available, just like Mary, Joseph, and David, God will choose you. Remember 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 – God chooses the weak and the overlooked. So, why not you?