The Very Least of all the Saints

by: Carole L. Haines

I woke up feeling like I’m so unworthy this morning. All my shortcomings came out of hiding yesterday and were glaring at me like neon signs telling me I am not worthy of being used by God. 

I cried out to God in my weariness and asked for Him to speak to me this morning. I woke up attacked about past issues. Things I thought long gone or overcome. I prayed. 
“God, please help this cycle stop, both within me and from without. I am so exhausted Jesus from the battle. I am the most imperfect human on the face of the earth. Can you really use me?” 

 Paul felt this way about himself, did you know that? He wrote: 

“I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given.” 

This is found in the middle of Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 3. here’s the context. 

 “The Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, ⁷ of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things.” (Ephesians 3:6-9) 

The apostle Paul, whom God used to write more of the New Testament than anyone else, called himself, “the least of all the saints.” Ever felt like that? Well, I sure have, and That stench was heavy on me this morning.  

There were three things which spoke loudest to me in this passage 

1) I was made a Minister by God, not people 

2) The ministry He gave me was according to His grace, not my ability 

3) This Ministry is according to His Power, not my strength. 

I cried out in my discouragement and God heard my cry and answered me right away. That was the First Passage of Scripture I opened to this morning. Our God is so, so good to us. He hears the cry of each of our hearts. He deeply cares for our longings and our transformation. None of us wants to stay “stuck” in the past. Only God knows how to free us and move us forward. Even I, “the least of all the saints,” is useful in His Kingdom, for His Glory. So are You, Dear Believer. So are you. What a mighty God we serve.