Just Jesus

Sometimes when we read scripture, or hear a message, we have a tendency to elevate the people that are referred to. We take the twelve disciples and push them way up on the "Jesus" scale. After all, they were THE disciples. THEY ran around with Jesus. THEY were part of the His inner circle of compatriots. THEY saw miracles. People brought back from the dead (do you know fully how not natural that is).  People healed and had sight and hearing restored. THEY lived a lifetime in that three years of following Jesus around. THEY were the disciples.

It took me long time to figure this out (I am slow of thought), but any greatness the disciples were credited with was not of their own doing. Any accolades that were heaped on them wasn't because of their own ability or talent, after all the majority of the disciples were fishermen. Anything that we can ascribe to them as being positive is solely due to the fact that Jesus chose them. He chose them to train, equip and empower through the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit, to affect, infect and effect the world. THEY (the disciples) were the vehicle through which the Kingdom of God would grow and spread in this world.  In fact anyone, any where on this planet today who is receiving praise and honor because of their work in the kingdom, does so because of being chosen and sent by Jesus.

We are all called to enter this ongoing kingdom work. We are to interact with those around us and share our story...be HIS witness....Demonstrate through His power to validate the truth about who Jesus is.
We let that "M" word scare us. MINISTRY!!!!! "Oh no....only minister's are to minister."  We have fallen prey to the idea that there are professional positions in God's kingdom. We are merely lay people. Our job and our lives are to support these professional ministers. Hog wash!!! Such is further proof of how messed up the church has taken the things of God and twisted them around. Ephesians 4:11-12 reads And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Do we really thing that the highest call for the Kingdom of God is for us to be comfortable and sit on the side line while the "professionals" do the stuff? No. We are called to engage in a campaign of Kingdom love to a world that is trapped in darkness and headed for hell.

Any greatness I may possess is simply because the Spirit of God lives in me.
Any success I could ever lay claim to is simply because the Spirit of God lives in me.
Get it?
It's all about Him and nothing to do with me.
In fact, if I have to expend myself in any way, I'll do it pointing to Him. Giving Him the credit.
Such is the call and Kingdom work we have all been called to.

God on you...
mb