Ordinary people, extraordinary task

Matthew 9 : 36 - 10 : 8

It is good to recall that the men called by Jesus to be his inner circle of twelve were just ordinary people. None of them had any title or owned anything that would have given him special advantage in the society of his time. From what we know some were fishermen and one at least was a tax collector (probably a man of means but holding a position much despised by his countrymen). They were people without the encumbrances of power, wealth or popularity. They were people who knew that their specialness lay in God's perception and that was enough.

I believe we can learn much from this. There is a great temptation even in Christian circles to look at people with position, with degrees, with means as the most likely candidates for leadership. It is very much so given the composition of city churches. We are drawn by the very measures the world uses. This is not to say that people with titles, degrees and financial means are not qualified to be leaders. But that our discernment needs to be based on other qualities that are not easily seen.

It is both comforting and disconcerting to recall that God chooses the lowly for his purposes. It is disconcerting because we would much rather be chosen according to our standards, our strengths - but God chooses according to his. On the other hand it is comforting if we really look deeper - we are people who possess nothing of our own, despite all we may have to our name. God calls those who come to him with open hands, with eager hearts. God calls those who know their poverty because he sees what they are capable of becoming under his direction and grace. The Lord takes what ordinary people like us can offer and uses it for extraordinary tasks in his kingdom.