Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 

-Mark 3:13-19

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This was Jesus’ crew—his posse, his entourage, his closest friends.  You would think if God was going to use people to spread His message He would have chosen the kings, the successful entrepreneurs, and the Ivy-Leaguers of the day.  But he chose the misfits, the lowly, and the rejected.

Andrew, Peter, James, and John were fishermen considered to be a lowly occupation.  In today’s occupational rankings, it would be considered like being a garbageman.  Matthew was hated because he was a tax collector for the Roman empire.  He was seen as a traitor to the Jewish people.

And it wasn’t just their social rankings that were problematic—these disciples or followers were messed up people.  Peter was a hot-head.  James and John wanted glory for themselves.  Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection.  And of course, Judas betrayed Jesus.

And here is the lesson for today: God chooses to use imperfect people to further His perfect Kingdom.

Christian scholars say that God humbled Himself in three ways.  The first is to become a human and come to earth as a baby.  We celebrate this act of humility on Christmas.  The second is dying on the Cross for us.  We will celebrate this act of humility next week for Good Friday and Easter (Resurrection Sunday).  The third act of humility is allowing His people to do His work.  We celebrate this everyday when we serve Christ.

God could do everything on His own!  He’s God!  But out of humility He choose to use us so that we may experience the joys of ministry.  When we help others connect with Jesus out of the abundance of our own relationship with him, we’re living life to the full.  We’re doing what we were made to do.

Do you feel as if you have nothing to offer God?  Do you think to yourself, “I’m just a high school student, what can I do?” Do you feel that you’re so messed up with your life that there is no way God is going to use you?  Do you feel like you’re still a baby Christian when it comes to faith?

You’re exactly who God wants to use to further His perfect Kingdom.  Take some time today and ask God, “What do you want me to do, Lord?”