It's a benchmark day. That means I'm spending my day watching the small humans take a math test on computers all day long. What that also means is that I've caught up on all my grading, looked at my lesson plans, updated my class blog, and still have hours left sitting in here, which is why I'm writing a blog post during the school day (Disclaimer: I am normally extremely engaged with my children at work. I teach my rear-end off on normal days... this is not a normal day, and therefore my rear-end is still firmly in place. My kids are staring at computer screens, it's painfully quiet, and I'm GOING TO GO CRAZY if I don't find something to do.)
Fun fact of the week: My husband started a new job as a minister at our church this week! I'm so proud of him. He is a gifted man and I know he's going to change the world. I'm blessed to get to tag along for the ride with him. His week so far has been full of meeting up with people he'll be working with... which means he's been taken out to eat every day so far. Not only does he have a full hour to eat, but he actually gets to go real places with real food. Like, restaurants.
I know, fellow teachers, you're probably as confused as I am. From what I've gathered, I think out there in the real world people actually have time to enjoy meals with their coworkers. Maybe one day we'll have that privilege. Until then, we'll keep scarfing down our Lean Cuisines in 20 minutes with hopes of having time to use the restroom for the one and only time during the day before we fetch our children from the cafeteria and march back to the Land of Learning.
Differing meal situations aside, I couldn't be more proud of my husband. He tells me about the work he's been hired to do and I have no doubt that he's been hand-picked to be a world-changer. I'm sure you've known people like that before: the people who are so incredibly talented at spreading God's love in their workplace that the thought of them doing any other job seems insane. Like God reached down and actually plucked them up and put them right in the middle of their mission field. It reminds me of when God told Ananias to go lay hands on Saul to give him his sight back. Ananias was hesitant because Saul didn't exactly have the best reputation. Do you remember God's response?
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)
Wow. A chosen instrument. That's my husband for sure. And my mom (also a teacher, and she really loves like Jesus). But me? I haven't exactly felt like a chosen instrument this week.
I've lost my patience a few times.
I've tried and tried to teach new strategies, but feel like I'm getting nowhere.
I've been tired.
I've felt inadequate.
And to top it all off, I was almost thrown up on. Twice.
No, I definitely haven't felt like a chosen instrument this week. But then I remember who God is referring to in this verse: Saul. The same Saul to stood back and watched as Stephen was stoned. The same Saul who went door to door looking for Christians to put in prison. The same Saul who was known for killing followers of Jesus.
That Saul? A chosen instrument to carry God's name? Yes. THAT Saul. You see, this is a humble reminder that God chooses the people we would least expect to carry His name. He chooses the ones who don't seem fit for the job. The tired. The inadequate. And yes, the thrown-up on.
Fellow believers, whether you feel like your job was made for no one else but you or you feel like a human trash can, know that YOU are a chosen instrument. YOU were handpicked to be doing exactly what you're doing right now, regardless of how good you think you are. I find comfort in knowing that God not only chose Saul, he transformed him into the instrument He needed him to be. I am not good enough for this job. In fact, few people are. But I don't have to be. I was chosen, and because of an almighty God I've been transformed into something so much greater than I could ever become on my own. And if you are a follower of Jesus, you've been transformed as well. Now that is powerful.
