Being in Gods Service – Part 2

Words of Encouragement

Dear bro, 

This month I once again encourage you to join God's service not because you are professionally qualified. Because all that matters is faith and agreement to follow Him. I cannot give you enough encouragement to join God's service because what you lack He has in stock. 

Matthew 5: 13-16 

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

I once listened to an analyst explaining how radically the Lord chose His disciples. In Jewish culture, Pharisees had been trained from an early age to be Pharisees. From the age of five, all children studied the Torah until they were about 10 years old. Those who showed proficiency continued while those who dropped out at this stage got a trade like fishing or farming (and other dead-end jobs). The ones who were proficient continued studying the Torah probably up to the age of 14-15. The ones who showed proficiency and talent at this level would continue. The ones who dropped out at this stage would get into semi-educated but better jobs and careers such as shopkeepers and traders. Probably from the age of 14, if you had shown proficiency, talent and oratory command in the Torah, you were set for life. Even if you did not become a follower of a Pharisee, you were a very educated man, you might still end up with a good career.  This would be such as tax collectors or perhaps some sort of administrator/clerk. Those who continued to show proficiency past this age 14-21 waited eagerly for a Pharisee with authority to test them, to engage them. Such a pharisee would take you under his wing to be his apprentice and would say to them “follow me”. Then you had it made! You had joined the elite with that phrase. 

I Corinthians 1:27 -28 

 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 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; 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,

But then Jesus comes along and turns this whole paradigm upside down. He doesn’t go for that very educated and the elite. Didn't go for those who had studied the Torah. He goes for the ones who dropped out in the first stages! The losers! Then He uses those people, those losers, to change the world. He uses the least likely! 

So brother wherever you are right now, you may be the least likely one. I just want you to remember this, He just called you like he called the workers at the eleventh hour in Matthew 20. He has called you and me just like He called those low skilled, those dropouts, those deadbeats, the losers—the fishermen. He has called you to change the world! At the end of it, it's not how skilled you are, or what you can do. Are you willing to be obedient? He looks at the least likely and is uses that coveted phrase “follow Me” (Matthew 4;19), will you follow? 

2 Corinthians 9: 8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 

John 15: 4-8

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me,he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

~ Tad RESTORED in Australia

If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to read my testimony and then my wife's encouragement.

Also, here are the previous letters from prior months that I hope will inspire you in your Journey.

Tad RESTORED in Australia