It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers … — Ephesians 4:11
God seems to specialize in using bungling human beings, individually and in groups, to accomplish His great purposes. Stop and think about it. What could be more precious than the little baby Jesus? Priceless is too cheap a word. He should have been surrounded by strong armed angels with great flaming swords at all times. Yet God gave baby Jesus with all his human vulnerability into the hands of a sixteen year old girl and a carpenter on a road trip.
Thirty-three years later, Jesus steps off this planet with less than 1% of its inhabitants even knowing that He exists. Who does He trust to spread the word? A coward who runs at the first sign of trouble. A couple of fishermen who argue over who’s the greatest. Eleven men who don’t get it when He says He’s going to rise from the dead. And when He wants to recruit more help, He goes for the biggest, meanest persecutor of all, Saul of Tarsus.
I could go on and talk about scaredy-cat Moses and lying Abraham and conniving Jacob, but, ultimately, what we find here is ourselves. Why would God be so crazy as to tell us to assemble together. Nonsense! Why would God make us into apostles and prophets and evangelists and pastors and teachers? Doesn’t He know who He’s dealing with? It blows my mind that God is so trusting. Is He crazy?
Or is He really very, very smart?
Stop and think about it.
Be encouraged!
Dwight
Dwight Clough is the author of four Christian books and is an active member of Lake City Church in Madison. This devotional is also available via email and you may review the archives back to 2002. To contact Dwight or Kim, use their contact form. You may also support their ministry.