When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 
Acts 4:13–15

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The word “ordinary” seems to have a negative connotation in our culture. Who wants an ordinary meal at a restaurant? Or to go on an ordinary first date? We want to be wowed and blown away. Pleasantly delighted, at the very least. But “ordinary” is just the attribute God looks for in people He intends to use—in the Bible stories of days past and in our world today.

The priests and elders who heard Peter and John speaking to the crowd were stunned by their ability to move the people into believing in Jesus. They question Peter’s and John’s healing abilities, “By what power or what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7) because certainly it could not have been by their own power alone. 

Verse 8 goes on to say, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them … know this… It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth… that this man stands before you healed” (emphasis added). Peter spoke boldly because he was filled with the Holy Spirit’s anointing. He was an ordinary man, but God enabled him to do extraordinary things in Jesus’s name through the matchless power of the Holy Spirit.

The almighty God can speak through you and me. He can move mountains using our small hands and heal wounded souls by putting our surrendered hearts to use. We can deliver powerful messages confidently with God’s authority present within us. He can empower us to make a difference in our spheres of influence.

But, do we believe that? Do we truly trust that God can use ordinary people like us? I sometimes doubt it, to be honest. On days when I feel pretty insignificant, believing all the enemy’s lies about who I am and what I’m capable of, it’s easy to limit God’s power and question His plan to use me. But then I remember Philippians 2:13, that “it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose,” and 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God says His “grace is sufficient for you, for [His] power is made perfect in weakness.” I remember that we were wonderfully made when God planted us in an ordinary womb.

There is no part of God’s creation He has fashioned without purpose or prudence, without considering its place in His eternal kingdom. And that includes you and me. What Jesus did on the cross is anything but ordinary. Let us be reminded of that and fearlessly deliver our message the next time we face skeptical crowds. 

Next Steps

Spend time reflecting on all your “ordinary” qualities and then pray and ask God to show you how He wants to use them.