“Do not be afraid, little flock,” Jesus told His followers, “For your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

I love this verse, don’t you? It reminds me of a similar verse in the Old Testament. There God tells His people, “Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you” (Isaiah 41:14).

In a world of bravado, bullying, and boastful expressions of power, it’s hard to rejoice in being “little.” A “worm” is not a very flattering description for warriors. As members of Christ’s body, the Church of the living God, we’d like to think that we could—with the right actions, persuasive arguments, or political pressure—change the power structures of the world around us. We’d like to be seen as a force to reckoned with, a mighty army marching forth with banners (Song of Songs 6:4 and Psalm 20:5).

But Jesus never flatters or misleads us. We ARE “little” in the eyes of the world. We are like a “worm” when compared with the world’s way of gaining power and exerting control. As Paul described in 1 Corinthians 1, God chooses those who are weak and despised to be His representatives. “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless … things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God” (vv. 27-29, NLT).

The challenge for us is to come to terms with this. Can we “boast about [our] weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through [us]”? The apostle Paul learned the wisdom of acceptance … being “little” so he could be used by God. He writes, “I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I AM WEAK, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NLT, emphasis added).

This transformation in perspective can only happen when we come to a place where our confidence is in God, not ourselves. We look to Him alone for our victories.   

The story of Gideon is a beautiful illustration of God’s ability to use weak vessels. When God called him to lead Israel in battle against the Midianites, Gideon was far from self-confident. He put out two fleeces to make sure he’d heard God correctly. Finally, he collected an army to fight with him. The only problem was, “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men’” (Judges 7:2). The Lord was concerned that His people would think they had won the battle because of their strength. So He asked Gideon to cut the number back drastically—from 32,000 fighting men to 300.

In Deuteronomy 7:7 Moses reminded Israel, “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.” God didn’t need His people to be large or powerful. He just needed them to be sold out to Him. In Micah 5:7 the prophet declared, “The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man” (Micah 5:7). The promised ruler of them, who would come from Bethlehem, “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God” (v. 4).  

Today, God invites us—His little flock—to partner with Him in building His kingdom. But, like Israel, He doesn’t want us to trust in our own cleverness, capability, or clout. Some of us remember the Moral Majority movement headed by Jerry Falwell in the early 1980s. Their idea was to gain political power through banding together so they could pass legislation favorable to Christians and others concerned about the moral decay of the country. But the “Religious Right” (as they came to be known) soon discovered how difficult it is to come against the political powers of the world in their own strength. Returning our nation to righteousness doesn’t happen through the arm of flesh.

God will use us—like He did Gideon—in our weakness and vulnerability. Our spiritual weapons are especially designed to ensure that victory comes through God’s power, not our own. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NKJV).

The “weapons” we wield are counter intuitive. They cannot be seen or measured, but they are powerful because they’re used in partnership with Almighty God. Gideon and his army used trumpets and jars with torches inside to defeat their enemies. Our weapons (listed in Ephesians 6:10-18) are truth, righteousness, faith, God’s Word, and prayer. With them we battle the spiritual forces of evil in our day. We might be outnumbered and feel under siege; we might suffer setbacks and be maligned as we seek to glorify God in our lives. But we are not alone, and we know that one day “at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow … and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

In one of his devotions Charles Spurgeon compares the Church of God to a myrtle grove flourishing in a valley—it is “hidden, unobserved … courting no honour and attracting no observation from the careless gazer. The Church, like her Head, has a glory, but it is concealed from carnal eyes, for the time of her breaking forth in all her splendour is not yet come.” (taken from Sept. 26, Morning and Evening, Christian Heritage publishers, 1994).

As we live through some challenging hours in the history of the church, we can rejoice in what God has promised. In both Old and New Testament scriptures we are assured that our day of glorification is coming. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).   

We may be small and weak, but in Jesus our Head, we have all the resources we need to stand fast and make a difference. In a world bent on chaos and destruction, we still have His promise: “I myself will help you.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Word, your precious promises, your Spirit, and your heavenly weapons that “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16, KJV). We are blessed to be a part of your little flock. Help us to rejoice in our weakness, knowing that in you we are overcomers. Use us, Lord, in whatever way you choose and let us see your power as we partner with you in advancing your kingdom. We choose to worship and rely on you alone! Amen.