“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:13)
The 12 men that Jesus first called into His ministry were a rough-cut crew. Like rough-cut lumber they they had flaws, some were green, some warped, some didnt mesure up. But these are men we call saints today. Over time, we have venerated them. Forever enshrined in stained glass, they are like comic book superheroes, but from the Bible. We think of them with no shortcomings, no imperfections or flaws. They are the spiritual elite.
And how could they not be? These saints spent three close and personal years walking and talking with, and following Jesus.
A young girl was asked in her Sunday school class what a saint was. Thinking of those stained glass pictures, she said, “They are the people the light shines through.”
Is that not what all of us are called to be? We are to “let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works . . . So, what is a saint? A saint is a true believer.
But who exactly were these saints? These apostles that Jesus called? These men who changed the world? The more we get to know these men, the more human we see they are. Sometimes we think of them as one-dimensional characters, perched on pedestals. But any honest look at their stories in the pages of Scripture would reveal otherwise.
They weren’t scholars. They weren’t religious sages. The fact of the matter is, they were quite ordinary. They were hopelessly human, remarkably unremarkable. But they were available and obedient to the our Master’s call.
This is just one of the many reasons that I know that the Bible is truly the Word of God! It is a completely honest book. It gives us our heroes in full view “flaws and all”. Seing the flaws in these men Jesus chose does not discourage me, but quite the opposite. It gives me hope as a flawed person.
“Despite our flaws, God can use you and me.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father” Thank you for not ever giving up on me, even in times when I’ve struggled and have tried choosing my own way. I ask that You Lord, would continue to fuel my hunger for Your word and more of You in my life. Your knowledge of me goes beyond my comprehension. Please help me to exercise my faith, knowing that Your purpose for my life is for my good, and Your pleasure. Like your chosen apostles, Help me choose to follow You with all my heart, even if its just one step at a time. Thank You for Your reassurance along the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Rob Lavallee
Scriptural Seeds Ministries
http://www.scripturalseeds.org