God Uses Unlikely Vessels
Jesus called twelve very different men to himself. The disciples came from different backgrounds. They had different personalities and different strengths. Even amongst the group, there were men who would not have gotten along if it were not for Christ. There were zealots, a tax collector, commoners, poor, and slightly upper class. Yet, at the mixing of God, these men became the core of the Lord’s earthly ministry and the establishment of the church. In today’s reading, we hear of Jesus sending out these twelve varied men to preach the gospel. These were not men who would instantly gather others to themselves. Nor were they men the world would see as having authority to teach. Afterall, what does a fisherman know of heavenly things? The world is about to discover that God does things a bit differently. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 tells us, “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”
Had Jesus chosen twelve men who were polished and formally trained, I think many of us would be too intimidated to follow. As it is, doubt shouts at most all of us that we are not qualified to do what God has called us to do. Every time I feel this doubt creeping up in my mind, I remember that God does not use the perfect. He uses the willing. Jesus spoke to the learned men. He interacted with the Pharisees and the religious leaders. Scribes listened to his commands yet failed to take them to heart. The ones the world thought were perfect for the job failed to open their heart to the call. Instead, it was the brash and unrefined, the timid and the over-confident, the ones with checkered pasts and the sinners who received the Messiah. And it was these men whom Christ sent out to the nation of Israel to spread the good news.
More than simply sending them out, Jesus equipped them for their mission. He didn’t send them out to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who had leprosy, and drive out demons without giving them the power to do so. If he had, these simple men would have been laughed out of town or branded insane. Rather, Jesus tells them, “Freely you have received; freely give.” (verse 8) God never sends us to do something He has not empowered us to do. He knew all our weaknesses before He placed the calling on our life. He understood how we would struggle and provided what we would need to overcome.
Do you feel unqualified? Join the club. Can you imagine these former everyday and lowly men standing in front of crowds preaching and healing? What power does a fisherman have over demons? What authority does a despised tax collector have to teach in the company of ‘proper’ Israelites? What right does a housewife in small town have to explain scriptures and encourage through God’s word? Who am I to be used by God? Aren’t you glad that it doesn’t depend on who we are but instead rests on who our God is? This is the confidence we have: God equips those He sends. Every moment of our lives prepares us for what is coming. Even when we don’t realize it, God is teaching and preparing us. When we rest in God’s authority, God’s ability, God’s strength, it matters not if we are small, common, or weak. There was nothing magical about the twelve men Jesus sent out into the world. They were vessels, willing to be used. No matter what shape or condition your vessel is, you can do everything God asks of you. Your rough edges will either be smoothed through trial and teaching or used for the beauty of their irregularity. Don’t allow doubt to drown out God’s call. When He opens the door, walk through with confidence – confidence in God’s ability to use even the least of us for His mighty purpose.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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