Have you ever felt as though you just weren’t worth a whole lot to God? Oh sure, there really was no question about your salvation. I mean, you know that Jesus’ sacrifice paid the price for you to go to heaven. But let’s be honest here, you know your failings, your shortcomings, your frailties. How could He ever use you for the benefit of the kingdom with all the “stuff”?

Those are just the type of self-deprecating thoughts that Satan wants us to harbor. But if we read His Word, we find many who perform great service, regardless of past mistakes!

Are you familiar with the story of Moses’ older brother, Aaron? Here’s a guy who has seen, done, and heard it all when it comes to the works of the Lord. He served as God’s spokesman to Pharaoh. He watched God strike Egypt with plague after plague, demonstrating His omnipotence and dominion. He experienced the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. He helped to hold up Moses arms so that the Hebrews could win the battle over the Amalekites. All this and more, but what happened when he came under pressure?

The nation of Israel had gladly agreed to be God’s covenant people, but with Moses gone up onto Mount Sinai for one brief month, the people come to Aaron to plead for him to give them a tangible god to worship—something specifically forbidden by God.

Aaron acquiesces and casts a calf to be worshipped from the gold jewelry contributed by the people. When confronted by an angry Moses, Aaron lies about it, trying to blame the people and avoid personal responsibility. Yet just weeks later a repentant Aaron is ordained by God, specially set aside if you will, to become the High Priest for the entire nation. In a manner greater than most of us would ever dream about, Aaron was permitted “to be used of God.”

What does that mean for us? Simply that it is not about our performance or a lack of mistakes in our past, but about the inclination of our heart toward God and our openness to have him direct us.

There is a wonderful chorus by the prolific Christian composer, Audrey Meier. These words sum it up pretty well:

"To be used of God
To sing, to speak, to pray.
To be used of God
To show someone the way.
I long so much to feel
The touch of His consuming fire,
To be used of God is my desire."

Paul Neighbors
“To Be Used of God” © 1964, Manna Music