Flawed Instruments Glorify God

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”

Philippians 1:6



Have you ever talked yourself out of attempting a hope or dream only because you convinced yourself you didn’t have what it took to succeed? Its been well said, “its not what you can do that counts most but rather what God can do through you.” If only we really believed this, what a difference each of our lives could make in the world. Growing up my dad enjoyed golf and we watched a lot of golf together through the years. One of my dads favorite players was professional golfer Lee Trevino who as a teenager and before he went pro use to hustle guys at the golf course near his home. Lee would take a Coke bottle and wrap it in tons of duck tape making a club out of it and then bet the locals he could beat them in a round of golf using just his homemade club. And you know what? Often times he would, proving flawed instruments can do great things if they are in the right hands.

Most believers would consider the apostle Paul a success in life on both a personal and spiritual level. As a tent maker by occupation he did well enough in business he was able to cover his expenses as well as his traveling companions as he went about his missionary work. As the human author of almost 2/3 of the New Testament there is no question he was used mightily of the Lord in spreading the gospel around the known world. And yet as successful as the apostle Paul was, he saw himself as a flawed instrument. But for him that was OK because he understood what I hope and pray you and I grow in our own understanding. Flawed instruments glorify God.

Listen to what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Yes, beloved, God does some of His best work through flawed instruments. Jesus said it best in John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” The key to our success then in this life is knowing we can do nothing without Jesus, nothing that has any eternal value that is. That’s why the apostle Paul penned these words under inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” With God, nothings impossible! Next time you feel as if you don’t measure up, that you don’t have what it takes to chase that dream or reach that goal, remember its flawed instruments in the hands of God that bring Him glorify.


“And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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