A
dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded
as the greatest. Luke 22:24
God
never uses people with halos over their heads. Instead He
consistently chooses to use imperfect people with dingy characters to
show how His power is made perfect in their weaknesses (2nd
Corinthians 12:9).
Jesus
chose twelve disciples who were obviously flawed in character. They
were vain and ambitious (Luke 22:24, Mark 9:33-34), impulsive
(Matthew 16:22, 14:28-29), doubting (Luke 24:13-35, John 20:25),
given to wrath (Luke 9:54, John 18:10), and even one He called a
devil (John 6:70).
When
He chose disciples to become the nucleus of His ministry He didn't go
to the Temple or the best Jewish educational institutions. He went to
the lakeside and called fishermen, to the booth of a tax collector,
He called an Israeli freedom fighter, and even the one who would
betray Him. They were all flawed, but amazingly, He immediately named
this dingy dozen Apostles (Luke 6:13).
They
proved loyal to a point, that is, until His arrest, then they ran
like deer and went into hiding. They remained so until He appeared to
them after His resurrection. Boldness came on the day of Pentecost
when they received the promised power of the Holy Spirit (Acts
2:1-4). These formerly timid men became spiritual lions and
champions of the faith, turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
From
dingy to delight, Christ Jesus loves revealing Himself through us
when we know we can't do it on our own. He upholds us with His
righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). To us be all the strength. To
Him be all the glory. He will be faithful to do it. Amen.
Ken
