Qualified by God

Elder Holland's Talk (click on the link to read it) started me thinking about the apostles Christ left behind. These are some of the greatest men that ever lived on the earth and will help Christ during Judgment. Yet, during a lot of the stories in the New Testament they just don’t get it. They marvel when Jesus performs a miracle and wonder how he does it, and mourn when he dies and can’t believe it when he is resurrected. As Elder Holland relates in his talk, they even go back to their normal lives after he returns to heaven. To us this seems totally ridiculous and we can’t figure out what was wrong with them. But we know these men become spiritual giants. So I started to think about it. Christ chose these men.  He could have chosen scribes or Pharisees that knew the laws and prophecies and where seen as very religious people. But he didn't  he chose his simple, humble disciples. They weren't educated, they were simple fishermen.

Even this was not the first time the Lord chose under-educated  under-qualified people to lead. There’s Samuel the boy prophet who has to be wiser than Eli the priest. David is a simple shepherd boy who must be braver and stronger than his older brothers, King Saul, and Goliath. Daniel and his friends must stand up to King Nebuchadnezzar multiple times, and following kings. Esther was just a woman, but she saved her people. Of course in our time, Joseph Smith had a very limited education but he was able to translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God. Anyone could have been chosen for that task, many great, educated people were alive that knew a lot about Egyptian languages, but Joseph Smith was the one.

So when I think about this, I have to remember how God works. We know that the Lord looks on the heart, not on the outside. When I feel like I don't know how to do my calling and someone else would be so much better, I have to remember that Heavenly Father chose me. When I feel bad for the poor woman from Ukraine that can barely speak English and has to teach our Gospel Doctrine class, I should remember that Heavenly Father wants her to do that. I may not see why, but there’s a reason he put her there, a reason he gave her that calling. Who am I to judge a person if God says they’re right for the calling, even myself? So there's a little thought for the day.