As Jesus prepared to go public with his ministry, he needed followers to train. Against all approved leadership protocol, he chose for himself twelve anti-heroes, individuals conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities. What did he discern upon meeting these men? Was it hidden potential? Was it strength of character? Was it love that blinded him to the rough edges? Or did he see ahead to the time when these guys would be transformed by, and filled with, the Holy Spirit?
Can you imagine? God chose us, too, and certainly not because any of us were shining lights or paragons of virtue, but because He loved us! Romans 5:6,7 talks about the time being right according to God’s Plan ‘A,’ that perfect design arching from-history-to-future and including us! Paul makes it clear that when this happened we were far from God, powerless and weak, wasting our lives in sin. It was at this time that the Anointed One, Jesus, Son of God, Redeemer, Savior, died for us, shed his blood on the cross for us, thereby making us right with God, and rescued from God’s wrath! Romans 5:11, VOICE adds: ‘ . . . we stand reconciled and at peace with God!’ And more, in 2 Corinthians 5:17, we read that anyone united with the Anointed One (because of the sacrifice of the Anointed One) is a new creation, the old life gone, the new life begun! (Is your head spinning too?)
A somewhat cynical expression in our day is: ‘If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.’ But here, in Scripture, what seems way too good to be true is indescribably, off-the-charts, undeniably, irrevocably, true. ‘God orchestrated this: the Anointed One who had never experienced sin, became sin for us so that in him we might embody the very righteousness of God.’ 2 Cor. 5:21, VOICE.
It’s like God lovingly aimed a powerful zoom lens over the parapets of Heaven, and locating us, recognized us as His chosen ones and fell even more passionately in love with us. He saw us mercilessly held as sin’s captives and responded by deploying His Plan ‘A.’ ‘But God, with the unfathomable richness of His love and mercy focused on us, united us with the Anointed One and infused our lifeless souls with life – even though we were buried under mountains of sin – and saved us by His grace.’ Ephesians 2:4,5, VOICE.
All this leaves me breathless. He didn’t just choose the twelve. He chose you and me. And He’s chosen many, many more. As His ambassadors, unworthy though we may be, we’re commissioned to finish the gathering in work. Looking forward to seeing all you awestruck ‘even me?’ ambassadors tomorrow, 10 AM EDT, 7 AM PDT, 3 PM UK. PD
