An Army of Misfits - Martin Wiles

So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.  Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT

What others might consider an army of misfits, God often considers just-right fits.

After my father retired from full-time preaching, he served as an interim pastor for a small church on the lake. Once a thriving church, it now fought to survive. Dad tried to get them to take their eyes off their situation and focus outwardly. If the church grew, many of its problems would disappear.

At Dad’s behest, the church reached out. They ordered door hangers and placed them on houses in the community, inviting all to come. When the church called a new pastor, the preparatory work had been done. He picked up where Dad left off and continued going into the community, inviting all.

And people from all walks of life began to come. Most of them from the wrong side of the tracks. People with sordid backgrounds and questionable lifestyles. The people in the church found the people in their community were quite different, but they didn’t let that stop them. They loved them and took them in. Soon, the church became the fastest-growing church in the local association. But it was a church of misfits—at least according to many.

Jesus also tended to invite those considered misfits to follow him. His twelve disciples weren’t who others might have picked to change the world: fishermen, a tax collector, and other societal outcasts. Nor were those who collected around David as he ran from King Saul’s attempts to kill him. But they became a great army. And those twelve disciples initiated a world revival.

Thinking God can’t use us because we have sordid backgrounds or because we’ve endured unfortunate circumstances in the present is the Devil’s ploy. If he can convince us, he will keep us from being productive.

God, on the other hand, has good plans for us. We were created in his image, and nothing we’ve experienced—or are experiencing—can hinder his work unless we let it. Confession, repentance, and trust wipe the slate clean.

God loves to use those the world considers misfits because when great things are accomplished through them, he gets the credit. And after all, shining the spotlight on God is what life is about.

Don’t let others—or Satan—convince you God can’t use you. All God requires is your willingness.

Father, I thank you that my past doesn’t hinder you from using me in your Kingdom’s work. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.