The names of the twelve apostles are these…
Many times in life, I have looked at myself, looked at the hurt in this world, looked at the greatness, purity, and holiness of God and thought, “I have nothing to give.” Other times in life, I have compared myself to the task at hand, to others around me, or gazed upon my resume and thought, “Wow! I’m ready for this!” As a strange, intoxicating feeling filled my chest, the addictive poison of pride and haughtiness invaded my soul.
Jesus picked disciples who held no reputation and lived in the shadows of obscurity.* He chose people who did not come from the field of professional religiosity, but from middle-income professions who engaged in unique, yet overtly un-special or un-desirable jobs.*
The pride that seeks to take up residence in my heart does not qualify me for service unto God. My games of comparison that ignore my faults, exaggerate my strengths, and peer into the weaknesses of others does not set me above the rest. The embarrassing and shameful desire to be known about and seen by many does not expand the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus is looking for ordinary, obscure, uneventful people to propagate the miraculous, eternity-altering good news of the Kingdom. If we took an honest estimate of ourselves, we would see how unqualified we are to serve as ambassadors of the ethics, relationships, presence, and future of the Kingdom.*
Interestingly enough, our understanding of our own inadequacy positions us to serve Jesus in His mission. This understanding of our own inadequacy sets aside the broken crutches of our own ability, demanding that we rely solely on Him.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to recognize the goodness and grandeur of God. Perhaps Jesus wants you to remember where you came from so that you can remember how good and great you are not. Maybe God is inviting you to embrace the normality of your average existence as a qualification for participation in His amazing ministry.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 241–244, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 10:1–4) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).