Qualified

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 (HCSB)

Are you qualified to do great things for God?  I have talked with many Christians who struggle as a Christ follower because they don't think they are qualified.  They think they don't know enough.  The feel inadequate to effectively be used by God.  When we have those thoughts we just need to go back to the Scripture.  Story after story in the Old Testament as well as the new we show us the error of our thoughts.

This verse from the Acts is a prime example.  Peter and John were doing great things.  They were bold and those opposing them were surprised and impressed.  Why were they impressed?  Because they realized that they were uneducated and untrained men.  Now note that it was the opposition that discovered the "why."  It was that they had been with Jesus!

So back to our initial question, are you qualified to do great things for God?  Have you been with Jesus?  Are you spending time growing in your relationship with Him?  Are you spending time in His Word so that He can teach you?  If so, get ready because you can do great things!  If not, there is a very simple solutions.  START!

A Bad Attitude

All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron;

Num 14:2 (NASB95)

Is a bad attitude a sin?   When we become negative we find ourselves falling into a trap that will lead us to nothing good or godly.  A bad attitude and grumbling is just the first step that will lead us to fall into sin.  Usually accompanying grumbling will be other negative actions that lead to sin.

When we grumble we also find ourselves in despair.  We cry, belly ache and complain.  With despair we struggle to see anything positive.  But in reality for the child of God, there are many, many blessings that we should remember.

We also find ourselves longing for the good old days.  There is an important reality to remember.  It is that rarely are the good old days as good as we remember them.  The Israelites wanted to return to Egypt, yes Egypt.  It seems they forgot the whips, cruelty, the bricks and all that went with their slavery there.

The Israelites also found themselves blaming God.  Can you imagine that.  Blaming God for what?  Hasn't God rescued them from their captivities?  Hasn't God provided for them food miraculously?  Hasn't God brougth them through the Red Seas and saved them miraculously from the Egyptian military breathing down their necks?  Yes that God who did great things for them they blame for their troubling situation.

Finally after grumbling, despair, longing for the good old days and blaming God we find ourselves rebelling against God.  We must be careful of our bad attitudes and the sin it will draw us into.  Christ followers must guard against negativity and grumbling.  Don't grumble but  thank God for the opportunity to serve Him today!