Why God calls Numbskulls

When you look at the disciples in the New Testament who were responsible for literally turning the world upside down with the Gospel in the years following the death and the resurrection of Jesus, there's not a single one who's all that impressive.

 

Even Paul, who had exceptional academic credentials, is the last one anyone would think that God would choose since he'd persecuted Christians and even approved of the stoning of Stephen.

 

Many of them were fishermen. You can be a smart fisherman, I suppose, but it's not a profession that's particularly known for producing world beaters. Matthew as a tax collector, among the most despised in Jerusalem since they were deemed "traitors" by gathering taxes from their own people and turning them into Rome. There was a zealot, too, who was associated with a violent revolutionary movement - he's listed in the NT as "Simon the Zealot." Then, of course, we have the "Sons of Thunder," James and John, who at one time ask Jesus if he'll call fire from heaven down on a bunch of Samaritans, and are also the ones who got in a little bit of trouble for asking Jesus if they could have the places of honor beside Jesus in His Kingdom.

 

Even when the apostles are teaching in Jerusalem after Pentecost, and causing quite a stir, we're told that the chief priests and scribes were astounded. "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13.
 

I mentioned Paul before. He actually writes about this principle, that God seems to choose "fools," the least expected, to do his work. He does this on a couple occasions.

 

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." 1 Cor. 1:27-29 

He addresses this idea again a little later when he talks about how he prayed that God would remove his thorn in the flesh. Something Paul called an "angel from Satan" that he'd asked the Lord to remove on three separate occasions. Personally, I think it was some kind of sin that Paul couldn't shake.

 

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Cor 12:9 

How fascinating is this. Paul also says that God did this to keep him humble. I mean, we've all known people who seem to be pretty smart and know it. I've even know theologians whose heads were about three sizes too big. There are some pastors that way, too. There's a chance I might have been one of them once upon a time.

 

To think, God will allow us to continue to be in the battle over a problem, a sin, a weakness, because he wants us to rely on his grace. That doesn't mean God is giving us license to keep failing, to keep sinning, but he wants to remember that we need his grace always. If we ever get too big for our britches, well, the next time we bend over he might just make sure we split the seam... just to keep us humble.

 

I've been blessed that God has at times in my life totally removed certain sins from my life, certain problems and weaknesses. There are other things though that I've prayed he'd just remove, but he's allowed to remain as a struggle. It's not that God isn't listening, or that I'm just so darn obstinate, or that I'm not strong enough. Of course I'm not strong enough. God chooses to allow us to struggle sometimes so that we'll rely on Him all the more. Then, when we've totally gotten that whole concept of surrender through our numbskulls, that's when He often shows up to remove the problem.

 

Then again, not always. Sometimes he leaves things there for us to struggle with for a long season, all so we might learn to boast all the less in ourselves, in how much we've done, or how much we've changed, and might continue to rest in grace--and boast in Him alone.  

 

Think about it, going back to the early apostles/disciples. The chief priests and scribes were "astonished" because these common men were bold in their testimony, speaking as mean who'd been taught the Torah by a great Rabbi. Well, actually, they had. They learned it from Jesus. We hear after the resurrection, particularly on the Road to Emmaus, how he taught his disciples about everything in the Scriptures that he'd fulfilled, how the Messiah must suffer, die, and rise in three days.

 

You see, it's a mercy when God allows us to remain weak, to continue to struggle, because He knows well how quickly the old Adam within us rises up to take credit, how insidiously our pride swells whenever it gets a chance. He does all of this because he loves us, and because He wants to use us in our weakness, so that His glory, His strength, His power and grace might shine through.  

 

So, here's the good news for all of us. It doesn't matter how smart you are or aren't. It doesn't matter if you have an education from the Seminary, or if you've only just started reading your Bible. It doesn't matter what sins you've done in the past, or what kind of weaknesses and struggles you still have. The answer for all of us is the same:

 

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

 

So, like Paul, don't hide away your flaws and faults. Boast of your weakness all the more, so that the power of Christ might work through you. After all, if there's anything that ever gets in the way of the Holy Spirit working through us, it's us. So get that big head out of the way. Stop exaggerating your strengths and hiding your weaknesses. Boat not in your talents, boast in your flaws. Then, Jesus will shine through you more than you can possibly imagine.

 

In Jesus' name,

Judah