The Jamaica mission trip is upon us and set for
the end of this month. I want to extend gratitude to all of you who see the
importance of this short-term mission trip and to the Lord for allowing us to
see the impact from attending annually. I am truly excited to see what is in
store this year as we continue in football camp community ministry and revisit
other mission works in support of Bay Life Baptist. When thinking about all
that needs to be done and the impact that can be made, a feeling of anxiety is
present with a sense of inadequacy for the task. I think you all can identify
with such a feeling when on the cusp of an assignment that is larger than you
that God has called you for. However, we know and must practice the principle
that through Christ we can do all things. With these thoughts in mind I want to
share with you John MacArthur’s words in regard to the 12 ordinary men who were
called as His disciples:
“…They were ordinary men in every way. Not one of
them was renowned for scholarship or great erudition. They had no track record
as orators or theologians. In fact, they were outsiders as far as the religious
establishment of Jesus’ day was concerned. They were not outstanding because of
any natural talents or intellectual abilities. On the contrary, they were all
too prone to mistakes, misstatements, wrong attitudes, lapses of faith, and
bitter failure – no one more so than the leader of the group, Peter. Even Jesus
remarked that they were slow learners and somewhat spiritually dense (Luke
24:25).
They spanned the political spectrum.
One was a former Zealot – a radical, determined to overthrow Roman rule. But
another had been a tax collector – virtually a traitor to the Jewish nation and
in collusion with Rome. At least four, and possibly seven, were fishermen and
close friends from Capernaum, probably having known one another from childhood.
The others must have been tradesmen or craftsmen, but we are not told what they
did before becoming followers of Christ. Most of them were from Galilee, an
agricultural region at the intersection of trade routes. And Galilee remained
their home base for most of Jesus’ ministry – not (as some might think)
Jerusalem in Judea, which was the political and religious capital of Israel.
Yet with all their faults and
character flaws – as remarkably ordinary as they were – these men carried on a
ministry after Jesus’ ascension that left an indelible impact on the world.
Their ministry continues to influence us even today. God graciously empowered
and used these men to inaugurate the spread of the gospel message and to turn
the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Ordinary men – people like you and me –
became the instruments by which Christ’s message was carried to the ends of the
earth. No wonder they are such fascinating characters.”
Inadequacy in regard to God related
tasks is a notion from the enemy and a copout to obedience. We must remember
that if God calls us for a task, God Himself will provide the grace for its
completion in His time and in His way. All we are required to do is abandon
self and follow what He says. Therefore, we can boldly step into any task, not
in self-confidence but with an assurance that He will complete that which He
began! We have a beautiful example in the lives of His disciples and many other
biblical figures that God is simply looking for someone to say “yes”, to step
out in faith according to His will, He does the rest.
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