Being Ordinarily Equipped To Reach Our Neighbors
Posted in CommunityThroughout the Bible, we see time and time again God using the most unlikely individuals as messengers to reach His people. We sometimes fail to realize that the primary way God has chosen to reach people is through ordinary people. 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 tells us why He does this: “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” God chooses to use people, because in doing so, He receives the maximum glory as He works in our lives in spite of our weaknesses. This concept is correct in us today as well as in the very apostles that Jesus chose over 2000 years ago. Some people get uncomfortable when it is mentioned that these men were not perfect. We have a tendency to lift up these men and think that they were perfect, holy, and without blame. An honest look in the pages of scripture would reveal a different idea. These men were not scholars, they were not religious leaders, and as a matter of fact they were quite ordinary, and far from what would be characterized as leaders by most. The way these men are portrayed in the bible demonstrated their humanness. The Bible does not hide the characteristics of these men. It presents God as perfect, and it presents the apostles in their true human character, problems and all. Jesus did not call them because of how great they were, He chose them because of how insignificant they were. He did not seek out men that were proud, rich, or those that had a formal education. He wanted men that He could teach and mold to His image. Jesus took a personal role in their lives and this is what made the difference in the apostles. All the apostles had to do was make sure they were available and obedient to their master’s call.
Jesus selected these twelve men to change the world. Many today would ask, “What was He thinking when He chose those men?”
Let’s be serious, a zealot who was a sworn enemy of Rome, a tax collector who worked for Rome, and a few fishermen. What could these men possibly contribute? They were not highly educated men, they were not theologians, they were common men asked to team up and work together for a common purpose–God’s purpose. It would be these men that would impact the world by the power of the Holy Spirit and their difficulties and triumphs are recorded in history for us to learn from.
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives a command to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.” Then, He gives the apostles a few words of encouragement knowing fully the task that was before them. “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” What else do we need if we have the Holy Spirit with us?
As community is rolled out in our neighborhoods, you can bet that there will be some difficulties and challenges. But at the same time, we can expect that the Lord will be right there with us. You just need to make yourself available and be obedient to His call and right now you are called to be a light in your neighborhood. The command that Jesus gives in Matthew 28 is one that tells us to go out and engage our neighbors and bring them the good news. You’re already equipped to do that.
by Mike Steinwender
