Not like a commissioner of the NBA, MLB or NFL. I’m talking about one who COMMISSIONS people.
Welcome to One Prayer Day 4. If you need a One Prayer calendar you can download it HERE. Today’s prayer? God is gracious. Pray for the churches listed on the calendar, you can fast something if you’d like, and also pray that God’s grace would flood people’s lives today.
Matthew 4: God is a Commissioner. I LOVE Jesus’ selection of men to follow Him. For most rabbi’s in the Jewish culture they would ONLY select the BEST of the BEST of men. Those who shined brightest in knowledge of Scripture, the law and faith. They would select the cream of the crop to pour their knowledge and teaching into. Not Jesus.
Matthew 4:18-19 says :
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Jesus called fishermen to FISH for MEN! They weren’t qualified. Not even close. But that’s the beauty of God. He is a commissioner. I don’t know who coined the phrase but it’s a great one “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” Jesus found Peter, Andrew, James and John throwing nets in the water and repairing broken ones. As far as we know they had shown NO signs of being “disciples”. Except…
The Great Commissioner saw something in them. It is THE most important quality ANY of us could have. What was it? When Jesus said “Come” they “immediately followed Him.” You know what Jesus is looking for? Not skill. Not qualifications. Not knowledge. Not experience. He was looking for OBEDIENCE. That’s it! Everything else He’ll take care of. And He DID take care of.
When God calls us to something, He just wants us to say “Yes”. When He commissions us, it is to obey, NOT to perform. When He asks us to lead, it’s NOT because we deserve it, or are qualified. It is simply HIS choice, allowing US the opportunity to “drop our nets and follow Him.”
What is the Commissioner asking you to do? Where are you saying “No” where you should say “Yes”? What weakness in your own life is keeping you from doing, being or becoming what God wants you to be?
Trying to obey,
Jeff
