God’s Uncommen Design (Meeting the call)
Jesus makes an authoritative announcement, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, NIV) He denies any other way to the Father other than through Him, which is God’s design. It is not a fancy network marketing program or any particular evangelistic program presented by a church. It is through Him and only Him.
Simply put, God wanted everyone to come to the truth and be saved through Jesus. Jesus died for everyone of all nations. His Word spread through evangelism. To Jesus, it was world evangelism with no distinction between foreign and homelands. Jesus planned to train and develop others, Uncommen just like you and I, to win the world for God. No easy button methods, only regular men who could encourage and inspire others to follow. The phrase “follow me” carried so much power in John 1:43, meeting Nathanael John 1:47 and Jesus’ vision casting in verse 51. “He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (John 1:51, NIV). Jesus let Nathanael know he will see far greater things than the moment he has just experienced with Jesus. Jesus saw great potential in these men who were willing to learn. He saw far greater potential in them than they thought capable. By the means and standards of man, the crew lacked knowledge and couth. However, Jesus saw the great potential as leaders and fishers of men. Each of us carries an Uncommen potential to be fishers of men. How would you have answered Jesus when He said, “follow me”? Would you lay down everything and pick up the cross, or would you say, “I’d love too, but first I must __________(fill in the blank)?
My call to ministry came at a time in my life when I would never have expected it. I was sitting in a Bible Study for Dummies class at my local church. Indiana Wesleyan professor Dr. David Smith was teaching. As he spoke these words, “God will use you regardless of your age,” I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirt, and then Dr. Smith uttered the following statement, “you are never too old for God” I felt it was directed right at me as that was the thought going through my mind. When it comes to God, never say never. He will call you when you least expect it. It was the summer of my 50th birthday when I found myself jumping into Seminary and one year later starting the Uncommen charter in Iowa, proving you are never too old. God wastes nothing in using our stories to reach others. My challenge to you is this; how can you intentionally create a new relationship finding potential in someone more extraordinary than seeing in themselves to develop a new leader in your community.