Monday, August 20, 2018
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For consider your call, brethren, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
TWELVE ORDINARY MEN
This is the title of a book by J. MacArthur on the apostles, subtitled "How the Master Shaped his Disciples for Greatness and What He Wants to Do with You." That the Master shapes us is great comfort when we look at ourselves and the shortcomings, peculiarities, and sins we each have. What Paul wrote to the Corinthian Christians he wrote to all Christians, the universal priesthood of all believers. We are ordinary people just like the apostles. For everyone it all comes down to "walking with Jesus." "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
The greatness is in the Extraordinary One. The apostles were different men after the resurrection. We see a boldness that arose based on the living Lord. Whereas they ran in the garden of Gethsemane, later they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. Peter's foolish boldness became a faith boldness. So to work overseas all we need is ordinary people, who the Lord can shape. The apostles began to witness in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria and then far afield.
This Christian faith of ours is contagious, it just keeps spreading. Andrew heard Jesus and went to tell his brother (John 1:41-42). Philip heard Jesus say to him "Follow Me." He in tum went to tell Nathanael (John 1:43-45). The woman at Jacob's well heard Jesus and went to tell the people in the city, who then came out to hear Him (John 4:28).
And so it has continued to happen. In the Berea Evangelical Lutheran Church in lndia a pastor from Renigunta tells some in Bangalore and they request a meeting. At Tiruttani they hear about our church and ask us to start work there. Some men in Chittoor got our literature and inquired. One thing leads to another by the power of His Spirit. The Word goes forth.
