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REFLECTION
God Calls The Unworthy
by Pastor Jeff Morlock
We spend so much of our lives trying to measure up, to be worthy in the eyes of God and others. Yet the Lord chooses that which the world deems unlikely.
God called Abram to be the father of the covenant, the one through whose line the Messiah would come to bring salvation to the world. We might expect God to pick a strong young man for this privilege, one with impeccable credentials, integrity, and devotion to the Lord. But Joshua 24:2 describes Abram and his ancestors as idol worshipers. That’s strike one. Abram is also way past his prime in terms of age. That’s strike two. And this elderly idolator’s wife, Sarai, is unable to bear children. If you’re counting, that’s strike three.
Martin Luther said that God loves to create from nothing, as he did in the beginning. So he starts here with three strikes and the odds stacked against him. Making promises to Abram, the Lord bids him leave everything behind (all past influences), including his country, his extended family, and his religion. He is to start over in a land that God will show him. Incredibly, Abram obediently responds in faith! We can at least give him credit for that, right? For having faith? Well, yes. And no. A person might have faith in this thing or that idea, but saving faith in God and God’s promise is not something we can muster up on our own. By nature we are prone to rebel against God, not trust in him. Consequently, like God’s promises themselves, the ability to receive them and act on them (faith) is also a gift! God chooses unlikely people like Abram and you and me, not because of our resumes, but in spite of them. God qualifies the unqualified, “faiths” the faithless, and “worthies” the unworthy. He comes to us hidden in ordinary people and things, like a baby lying in a manger, a condemned man dying on a cross, or elements of water, bread, and wine. Through these, he delivers to you what he promised. Forgiveness. Salvation. Worth. And new life in Jesus, the Promised One. In what ways have you been striving to earn a gift that is already yours? In what ways have you sought worth by comparing yourself to others, resulting in either unrealistic pride or shame? Spend some time in prayer repenting of these things and thanking God for choosing you in love to be his precious child.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Prayer Journal – To begin your daily worship today, grab a pen and paper and write out a prayer to God. Give thanks to God for all that He gives. And then your supplication by presenting your prayer requests to God. When you are done, tuck this away somewhere (so you can read it later and see how God has answered your prayers) and then move into hearing from God through His Word.
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