THE PIECES OF EVIDENCE WILL SHOW

Ordinary, flawed, hated, trouble makers, big-mouthed, hot-tempered, prostitute, the unlikely list continues to increase. Have you been in a time where you always wanted the best choice? I mean that is normal. If I would choose a group member, oh how nice it is to have the brightest student in the class and the most talented. It is just so natural to choose the best and ignore the not so shining personality. That is why it comes so handy for us not to notice the unnoticeable.

One day, I came across the portion in Mathew’s account of the calling of the first disciples. As you already have read yesterday, I grew up thinking that these disciples are the best among the rest, I thought they are the cream of the crop. And as I bump into a class that studied these characters, these twelve, I realized, they are just very far from being good to be picked for a sacred work.

Many of the disciples lived a very simple, common, and rugged life by the sea or by the market place, a few are at the top though, like a doctor and a tax collector. They are looked at by the society as those who would just grow and die rugged and poor like their forefathers.

Then, Matthew 4:18-22 records this very special event, the life-changing event to Andrew and Peter. Most especially to Peter because Andrew has already been following John the Baptist. Jesus told the fishermen brothers in verse 18, “Come, follow me” and I will make you fishers of men!” Notice the English construction, it did not say, “you will be fishers of men” instead, Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” Let me repeat the phrase, “I will make you.” It is not “you will help me…” or “after you do all the requirements,” it is very clear, “I will make you.” Jesus says I am the in-charge. I will be doing the work to make you fishers of men. It is my work to make you fishers of men. All you need to do is follow Me.

Jesus is being so personal, He was not acting like a boss who says, “Okay, follow me and I will hire my best employee to train you.” Jesus offered Himself to train not the most promising but probably the most flawed in the society.

Isn’t it amazing how the most flawed in the hands of the Creator of heaven and earth can become the pillars of the early church faith? Wow! It’s jaw-dropping, how the most hopeless becomes the dispeller of darkness around Judea, Samaria, and into all the world. Isn’t it simply unbelievable that the selfish, the proud, ill-tempered was turned into a martyr of faith and was crucified upside down? The big-mouthed and the proud was turned into the humblest; the persecutor became the master of love, the most quoted love verse in 1 Corinthians.

Wow! This story doesn’t stop in the printed pages of the Bible. This personal and transforming power of Christ when He said, I will make you fishers of men continues up until this time.

Jesus is calling you and He is offering Himself to be your coach, your tutor, and mentor. A full package of all you needed to help you grow into the best person in the world.

How is this happening?

Just like what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3, the work of the Holy Spirit to convert your heart will be like how the wind moves. We don’t see it but we know it is moving as we hear and as it touches our skin. The work of God in our hearts, we won’t see it but the pieces of evidence will show.

We see useless and hopeless lives miraculously turned into a useful vessel of the Gospel. Today, that maybe is your life!