"Why are you qualified?"

If you've tried to apply for a job or entrance to a specific school, most applications will ask in various ways, "Why do you believe that you are qualified?"

"Why should we hire you?"

"Why should you be admitted to our school?"

In other words, what sets us apart from others?

What makes us unique so that this business or school would be better because the powers that be let us join them?

If we're rejected for a job or a school, or some other position that we thought we were qualified for, it can hurt.

The more times we're NOT accepted, it can make us feel that we're not fit, unworthy, don't belong, and if we let our thoughts carry us that way, worthless.

Thankfully, there's an anchor for our souls: our minds, emotions, and desires that can be joined to One Who has chosen us and accepted us because of Who He is. Hebrews 6:19-20

It's NOT because of how qualified we are.

It's due to how good His eye is. Matthew 20:15

He sees our need and knows that He is the answer. Matthew 6:8; John 6:35; 10:7-9, 11

Consider some Bible verses that may help us to remember that we're more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37

When someone communicates that they believe we're NOT qualified to join their group, we may feel low and ungodly.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

When someone tries to be polite but still rejects us, we may feel "unspecial."

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6

When someone says, "I'll pass on you," we may feel that we need to work harder to earn acceptance.

Our qualifications for whatever we're to do, can be obtained by what God the Father has done through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:12

I [Paul, you, and I] can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me [us]. Philippians 4:13

Paul wrote about many of us who know that we're NOT on any "A" list in this world.

Brothers and sisters, look at what you were when God called you. Not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no one can brag in His presence.

Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin. So, as the Scripture says, "If people want to brag, they should brag only about the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

The Bible says that there's a rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9

It may seem strange, but we "work" to enter into that rest by ceasing from our own works as God did from his.

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:10-11

"Come to Me [Jesus], all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

So, it's a rest that's based upon His unearned and undeserved favor [His grace] that we're saved by faith.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

We can rest in His love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son [Jesus], so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:16-17

Sounds like believers ARE qualified.

Your thoughts?

R. Jason