If you’re a college sports fan, you’re familiar with what they call “recruiting season.” This is the time that high school athletes are deciding where they will go for their college athletic careers. It’s amazing the attention and money that goes into trying to determine whether these young players will become star players for their teams.
In some ways we can relate as we’ve been searching for a new minister. How do we know if they will be a good addition or whether they will be a good fit for our congregation.
Sometimes we relate to it when we start talking about being disciples. We look at our abilities and our qualifications and start to think, “I don’t think I qualify.”
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A Disciple is changed by Jesus
This is the second part of our series entitled Following and Fishing. We’re looking at a definition of discipleship that comes from when Jesus called Simon and Andrew in Matthew 4:19.
And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 (NASB)
We define a disciple as someone who:
- follows Jesus (“Follow me”)
- is changed by Jesus (“and I will make you”)
- is committed to the mission of Jesus (“fishers of men”)
Today we look at the part where Jesus said “I will make you” into fishers of men.
The qualifications of the apostles
Rabbis at that time were known to recruit disciples, or followers. They wanted people that they could pass their teachings on to. They were known to look for the best and the brightest of the potential pool of disciples.
If there were such a thing as disciple recruiting rankings, the guys who ended up following Jesus would not be five-star recruits. They’re probably zero-star, if that.
These were not people who were considered the best and brightest. They were sons of thunder, they were impetuous and outspoken, they included a tax collector and someone who was actively rebellious against Rome.
That gives us some hope, as Jesus chose people not based on their qualifications or what they brought to the table. He chose people willing to follow Him, and He was willing to take care of the rest.
The truth is that we are not qualified
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NIV)
Like the apostles, we are unqualified. There is nothing that we bring to the table that makes us look attractive as followers of Jesus.
Sometimes we struggle with “imposter syndrome” where we overlook our qualifications and think we’re frauds. This is not that. This is an understanding that it’s not about who we are or what we can do or how good we are.
Paul puts it pretty clearly: when it comes to our own righteousness, we’re dead. We are undeserving. We don’t deserve to be in the conversation.
Grace means it’s not about our qualification
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:4-9 (NIV)
It it critical that we understand that this is not about our qualification. While yes, we are unqualified, that fact doesn’t matter. That’s because of the beauty of God’s grace.
While we are undeserving, Paul paints the picture of a God who pursues us. He wants fellowship with us. He wants a relationship. Despite our death and unworthiness, God sought a reconciliation and God took the steps of bridging the gap.
Sometimes we can think that it’s not a good comparison to look at the Apostles. However, verse 6 said that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. God is placing us in a very high position regardless of our lack of qualification.
God has a purpose for us
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
There’s another way to phrase this that you may be familiar with: “I will make you into fishers of men.”
It doesn’t matter what we bring to the table because the part that matters is what God is bringing to the table. The main thing he wants from us is our availability. Are we willing?
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that he didn’t come to them with fancy words or eloquent speech (I Corinthians 2:1-5). He preferred to let the Spirit of God work through the simple message of Christ and Him crucified.
God asks us to be disciples. He asks us to let ourselves be changed by Jesus into what He wants us to be. He’s not asking for qualifications but availability. God will take care of the qualification details by gifting us with what we need to serve well.
Dry bones revisited
Here’s the lesson: We made mistakes in our lives. We have all sinned against God and were dead to Him as a result. We do not deserve to be disciples. The truth is, we are not qualified to be His servants and followers.
Jesus will make us into what He wants us to be. All we need to do is let Him.
A few weeks back we looked at how God brought Ezekiel to a valley of dry bones and asked if they could live. We are those dry bones. We have nothing to offer in and of ourselves.
But God brought the dry bones to life. He can bring us to life.
You’re not qualified to follow God? That’s actually a good thing. Celebrate it. Because it’s not about what we have to offer but about what Jesus can make us into. God gives His spirit and His grace and His gifts.
All we need to do is let Him do it.