[Who's your One? Series] On Earth, As It Is In HeavenSample

God Chooses the Willing

In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, when you turned five years old you were sent to the synagogue to learn the Torah (part of the Old Testament). By the age of ten, all students knew part of the Torah, and only the best of them would continue to learn the rest of the Old Testament. 

The other group of children, the “not so good students,” would return home to their family’s business. The boys who were picked to continue studying after the age of seventeen, and who wanted to make a career out of religious studies, had to find a Rabbi and apply to become his follower. They would sit at the Rabbi’s feet, and he in turn would ask them questions and test them in order to pick the best of the best. These teenagers would follow that Rabbi, and even live with him, in order to become Rabbis themselves after many years. 

Jesus was a Rabbi—a teacher of the Word of God. It is striking that as a Rabbi, He chose those whom He wanted to follow Him. Jesus did not choose the best; He chose those who were willing to follow Him. 

Can you imagine how big this calling was for them? If they were fishing, it meant that they were “not fit” to follow a Rabbi, and yet here the Lord of Lords was calling them. Sometimes, when we are confronted with the challenge of bringing someone to Christ, our first reaction is to find excuses. But Jesus did not call you because you are perfect and know how to do everything. 

Does this mean that you should not study or prepare yourself to be good at sharing the gospel? Absolutely not. But you should be careful that you do not end up trusting and relying on your own abilities rather than allowing God to show you what to do. Pride and self-sufficiency can limit the ways God uses you, and the moment you do that is the moment you stop relying on God.

It is of the utmost importance to understand and continuously remind ourselves that we need God. We need Him badly, desperately. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) NIV.

Jesus chose us! He wants to use us! He is the one who gives us the ability and who will guide us every step of the way. We are not alone; therefore, there are no excuses.