CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE: Sure You Can!

 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”  And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”  But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”  They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”  And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many .” [Mark 10: 35-45]

A wise Christian should know that true greatness is not a matter of great leadership, power, authority, or our high personal achievement or accomplishment. True greatness comes from our mind set and the attitude of our heart that desires and wishes to serve God’s purposes. Christians must be so committed to the Lord that we pursue His plans and His purposes on this earth without desiring any kind of glory, a great position, or material rewards. If we are truly Christians the greatest reward is to please our Lord!

How many of you can remember the Merv Griffin Show that came on TV years ago?  There was guest on that show that was a body builder. During the interview, Merv Griffin asked the body builder this: “Why do you develop those particular muscles?” The body builder did not answer but simply stepped forward and flexed a lot of muscles from his chest to his calf. The crowd in the audience applauded. “What do you use all those muscles for?” Merv Griffin asked again. Once again, the body builder flexed his biceps and triceps and made them grow to impressive proportions. Merv Griffin asked once again “What do you use those muscles for?”. The body builder was uncomfortable, embarrassed and in confusion he sat down. He could not answer the question Merv Griffin asked him.

Have you ever asked yourself ; What is the value of you being a Christian?  The answer to that is very simple! You’ve been created in Christ to make a difference.  God has giving you talents;  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. [Ephesians 2:10]  So how do you make a difference? How do you, the Christian,  use the muscles (talents) God has given you? Jesus answered that question for His disciples. They wanted to be important, and they wanted to be valuable, but sad to say but they misunderstood what that meant. The disciples felt that making a difference or being valuable to Christ was all about who they were and how great they were. Here is what they thought:

·        If only they could be important.

·        If only they could have a position of power. 

·        If only they could have a specially talent.

As far God is concerned, being His servant is more important than being a superstar and so, when Jesus chose His disciples - they were not the pick of the litter or the cream of crop. They were simply men He knew could be used to establish His kingdom. BUT THE PROBLEM FOR THEM was they didn’t think Jesus would want them as simple fishermen and laborers. They thought He would want men in positions of power and prominence. They were wrong!

Jesus taught the disciples that it isn’t who you are, or how powerful you are. It’s how open you are to servant hood. IN FACT, God deliberately doesn’t choose the powerful to do His will.  What type of people does Jesus want? People He can count on to be there.  Just Look at some of the people that God did choose and used:

• ü  Moses:  He stuttered.
• ü  David:  His armor did not fit. 
• ü  Hosea:  His wife was a prostitute. 
• ü  Jacob:  He was a liar.
• ü  David:  Had an affair with a married women.
• ü  Solomon:  Was too rich.
• ü  Abraham:  Was too old.
• ü  David:  Was too young.
• ü  Timothy: He had ulcers.
• ü  Peter:  He was afraid of death.
• ü  John:  was self-righteous.
• ü  Naomi: was a widow.
• ü  John Mark: He was rejected by Paul 
• ü  Paul: was the same as a hired gun, to help round up Christains. 
• ü  Jonah:  ran from God.
• ü  Miriam: was a gossip
• ü  Thomas: doubted.
• ü  Jeremiah: was depressed and suicidal.
• ü  Elijah: was burned out.
• ü  Martha: was a worrywart.
• ü  Samson: had long hair.

 

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. [1 Corinthians 1: 27-29]

The Lord does not choose on the basis of greatness, but on the basis of what He (The Lord) can do through us. Nothing in this world that is called great can be or will be used by the Lord. This does not mean that our Lord will not use a person with talent, a education, and a their ability.  It means that we must surrender all to be used by the Lord. It is His way and not our way. He is the potter and we are the clay. Gods standards and values are different from those excepted by the world. God chooses the people who will humble their self and submit to him. Are you one of them!