Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Years ago I had a student who played the trumpet. He had chosen that instrument because his family had an old one laying around in some closet and it just seemed natural. He was a nice kid who enjoyed band. He was really enthusiastic. But I had other ideas. The band needed a tuba player. So I spoke to him about switching to the tuba and he agreed to give it a try. This was, musically, where he belonged! He excelled and the band was fortunate to have him for years.
Paul had grown up in a Jewish home. He had been raised to follow the Jewish law and had done well at it. In fact, he had marked himself out as one with a lot of promise. He became a pharisee. He excelled in this and was considered a pharisee of the pharisees. His observance of the law was beyond question. But then he had his Damascus road experience and the direction of his life changed! He went from persecutor of the church to church member! This was a great blessing to the church! A double blessing! Not only was the feared per-secutor taken away, but they had a new worker to help spread the Gospel! And who better than this one? With his background he would be the perfect candidate to preach to the Jews!
But Jesus had other ideas. Paul would be the apostle to the Gentiles! The Gentiles? Paul had spent his life avoiding Gentiles! He was the most observant Jew possible. Surely the assignments got mixed up!?
Well, history proved otherwise. And should we really be surprised that God knew best?If Paul had not been obedient to his unusual call, what would the church have looked like? What would the New Testament have looked like? But Paul trusted God and he obeyed God.
It seems like so often we feel ourselves inadequate to the task that is before us. As a follower of Jesus, we too are on a mission. The Great Commission is for Christians, not just apostles. We have to be a light for Jesus as well. But we too often shrink back with feelings of inadequacy. The reality is, we probably are inadequate! But the One Who called us is not! He will be with us. You may consider yourselves a natural trumpet player but God hands you a tuba. You may have grown up with one way of looking at the world and God flips the script.
That student wasn’t an immediate tuba player. There was a learning curve. But I was there to help him. Should we expect less from the God Who calls us to join His mission in the world?
Blessings,
Pastor Russ
