Who Does God Choose?

Sometimes, a high-level example is discouraging.

I hear some great preachers preach and I think: I can really learn some things about preaching from them. Then I hear other great preachers preach and I think: They are so far above me, I can’t even begin to learn anything from them! I might be encouraged by their message, but I’m not encouraged by their example. I admire their preaching, but they don’t necessarily encourage me in my preaching, because I see them at such a higher level than I am. The Bible is full of powerful examples to us.

Elijah seems to be an example far beyond us.

Think of all the miracles he did. Even though the Bible records more miracles by his protege Elisha, Elijah is a much more powerful biblical figure.

There is nobody like Elijah—in terms of being used by God, but who is he?

We have all this intimidating knowledge that makes us think, “He’s so far above me, I can’t even begin to think I could do anything like that.” Still, we don’t know much about the kind of man Elijah is. We know he heard and obeyed God. But we don’t know anything about his preparation, his temperament before these miracles, his lifestyle, almost nothing! These chapters in 1 and 2 Kings tell us almost nothing about Elijah that would help us see what kind of man or woman God chooses!

So who WAS Elijah?

We have to go to the New Testament for that, specifically to James:

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5:17–18.

James was a man just like us.

He is not so far above us that we can dismiss him as our example for the miraculous in our own lives! Who does God choose? When God wants to miraculously change your world, he chooses a person like Elijah. Elijah was a person like us. God chooses a person like us. God chooses you.

But there’s one requirement

If I have a closer relationship with God than the person who makes those statements to me, it’s probably just because I know Jesus and they don’t. Do you know Jesus? In this context, James pretty much gives just one qualification for powerful prayers that bring healing and other signs of the Kingdom of God – righteousness according to James. 

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16 (NIV)

There’s only one qualification for God to work powerfully through your life: walk rightly with Jesus. Every other qualification you can think of comes from walking rightly with Jesus. And no, you are not a righteous man or woman just because you prayed a prayer one time to receive Jesus but have been living for yourself ever since. Or if you go to church occasionally and pray occasionally, but live for yourself all the rest of the time.

The question is, are you available to God? You are the kind of person God chooses!

Pastor Ed’s Notes:

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash.