Our ability to move forward in the life that God has called us has a lot to do with how we view ourselves. If we think that our innate qualities are a good starting point for God to use, then our walk will probably never reach it's potential. When we realize that we really have nothing to offer that God doesn't already have, then with that clean slate, God can rewrite our stories and make us the children of God that are usable for His kingdom.

We read in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, "For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." This was Paul's realization of who he was in Christ. He said in Ephesians 3:8, "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given,...". In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul said, "...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." Paul certainly came to Christ with the best personal resume in terms of position, education, etc. Paul correctly sees who he was and what he has gained in Philippians 3:7-8, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ...". On paper, Paul brought much to the table, but in reality, what he brought was a heart which was willing to be used. It's interesting that many will take a questionnaire on spiritual gifts. Many take a moment and consider our natural gifts and see where those talents fit on the lists of spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. But this is our mistake. God doesn't need to use these natural talents for use in His kingdom. He might, but He is not limited to them.

If we miss this point, we miss out on so much of what God is offering us. If we long for the good old days and reminisce of how great things were, then we can mistakenly come to the conclusion that God is the great cosmic killjoy, and that we have given up so much to follow Him. If we are not careful this type of thinking might have us walk with one foot in the world with the other foot in in our walk with God, which never works. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." When you use white gloves to play in the mud, the white gloves always get muddy, but the mud never gets "glovey". We might walk around thinking that we have given up so much in order to follow Christ, but compared to what we have gained, we have given up nothing. With this in mind, we read Paul's conclusion of this section in 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." Paul had so much in this world, but came to the conclusion that without Christ, he really had nothing. What Paul had and what all of us also can have is to come to Christ as a willing vessel, willing to be filled with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and used by Him and for Him. This is our calling and our blessing, and it is all based on His grace and mercy.