Unqualified

“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’

Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’  Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’

Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” (Matthew 16:15-23 NIV)

I find this passage quite fascinating.  Within the span of just a few minutes, Jesus goes from describing Peter as the rock on which He will build His church to calling him Satan.  Think about that.  You couldn’t find two more opposing views of one person.  This tells us a lot about Peter, but it also reveals much about Jesus.

Peter is obviously a very flawed man.  He is easily given over to extreme emotions.  He often speaks before thinking.  He is both over-confident and very insecure.  To say Peter was a diamond in the rough is a gross understatement.  Yet, Jesus embraces him.  He brings him into His inner circle and declares him to be a key component in a new order He is bringing to earth.  

I don’t think any of us, if given the task of Jesus to pick 12 men on whom would depend the spreading of the greatest news ever on earth, would have picked Peter or any of the other 11 men to be disciples.  As they were later described by the Pharisees, they were “unschooled, ordinary men.” (Acts 4:13) There was nothing about their lives to distinguish them. And this is where we gain insight into Jesus.  He is not looking for people who distinguish themselves by their lives.  Instead, He is looking for people who are flawed and imperfect in whom He can pour His Spirit and transform them into Kingdom servants.  In other words, you and me.  

Too often we think we are not good enough, or smart enough, or gifted enough to be used by the Lord in His Kingdom.  Yet, the only qualification needed is a willing heart.  He will take care of the rest.  Peter and the rest of the disciples are proof of this.

Today, if you feel totally unqualified to serve the Lord, remember Peter, who was as flawed as anyone, and still the Lord considered him qualified to lead His Church.  No matter how flawed you are, the Lord can still use you if you are willing for Him to do so.  

© Jim Musser 2014