My favorite thing about the Bible is that it is story after story of God using imperfect people to carry out His perfect plan.
God could've used literally anyone else, and He used Jonah.
Jonah was a guy who continually ran away and disobeyed God's command. Jonah heard the *actual* voice of God, and still refused to listen. Despite Jonah's disobedience, God brought Jonah to where He wanted Him anyway and worked through Jonah to point an entire, rampantly evil city full of people committing rampantly evil acts, back to Himself. And then, even after Jonah witnessed this giant miracle, Jonah quickly went back to selfishness and unfaithfulness to God.
God could've used literally anyone else, and He used Jonah.
God could've used anyone else, but He chose David.
David was the youngest son, left behind, not deemed worthy enough to join his brothers, by his own father for consideration of prophesy to become king. Left behind in the fields as a lowly shepherd to tend the sheep. God sent for David, specifically, to be anointed as the next King of Israel.
God could've used anyone else, but He chose David.
God could've used anyone else, but He used Jacob.
Jacob was the youngest son who lied and cheated his way to steal the family inheritance from his older brother. But it was through Jacob, God chose to bless his descendants, multiply them, and establish the nation of Israel.
God could've used anyone else, but He used Jacob.
Not sure when the stigma surrounding Christianity and the Church became this idea that you have to have it all together, you have to be perfect, you have to get cleaned up before you join.
"For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" - wait for it - "and ALL are justified freely by HIS grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:23-24 NIV)
It's never, "Look how good we are." But, "Look how good HE is." Our greatest gift... His mercy and compassion. The Church is just made up of a bunch of sinners who recognize their need for a Savior. And oh, how I need Him.