Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these “nobodies” to expose the hollow pretensions of the “somebodies”? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That’s why we have the saying, “If you’re going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, The Message).

This  blog was inspired by both Bill Wellons and Mike Glenn. Thanks to both of them for being faithful stewards of God’s Word.

Back in Jesus’ day, most other disciples were men who were the cream of the crop, so to speak. They were the very finest, brightest. Those who were the elite, those who survived when many did not and went back home to learn their fathers’ trades. They became the rabbis that everyone looked up to, the who’s who of their day.

But not so with Jesus. He chose people like Peter. Peter, the uneducated fisherman who had been eliminated for the possiblitiy of discipleship long ago. Peter, who when He saw Jesus’ authority over nature and, in this case, fish, fell down and declared himself an unworthy sinner. Jesus chose a tax-collector, two zealots, and other fisherman, among others. No one that had any of the credentials to be a disciple.

What Jesus essentially told Peter (and what He tells us his children today) is that He wants us just like we are. Who you are right now is good enough for Jesus to use and you admitting your sinfulness qualifies you best for a relationship with Him. He wants your mess to become your message (taken from another pastor who faithfully preaches God’s Word).

Jesus saw you struggling with your chains and bondage and saw your broken heart. He called you and loved you as you were right then. He took your place, took your chains and your bondage and sin, and bore them to an instrument of torture called a Cross where He paid your debt once and for all, making  you forever free.

So, I’m thankful Jesus chose me. I’m equally glad He chose you. Neither one of us deserved to be called or had earned it, yet here we are due to the grace of God. Let our response, our worship, be to give our lives back to Him for Him to use however and whenever and wherever He wants. Let the only song we sing be one of a heart that’s been set free! Believe that Jesus loves you and His love is changing you. Believe that God looks at you and sees Jesus. Let your life from here on out be a living hymn of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Amen and amen!