retro[re]spective

Perfect God of the Imperfect

I’m ordinary…

There are countless examples in the bible were God uses’ seemingly ordinary, imperfect people of society for his great works. However, there seems to be a feeling among many people that, ‘Oh God cant use me, or that his power is only channelled through special people. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

I feel there can be blocks which can limit how much God can work through us as individuals. These can include;

1. Doubt. God is a God of absolutes. There are no grey areas. Doubt is the opposite of faith.

Even as a Christian, I sometimes find that the ‘holier than thou’ attitude that has creeped into the church slightly nauseating. It can leave an aura that mistakes are not to be tolerated. Now that does not mean that I am saying we can do what we like, because that leads to Christianity that is ‘wishy-washy’ and as God rightly said he spits out the lukewarm [Revelations 3 vs 16]. There has to be accountability, and yes the mistakes we make in reality do have consequences. However, we serve a God of redemption.

My main focus for this post is that throughout history, God’s track record of those he has used and those people who he has drawn onto him self are the seemingly ‘imperfect’. Do you ever wonder why God did not use seemingly perfect in the bible. The Pharisees by worldly standards were the bees knees of perfection. They followed the Law, they lived seemingly perfect lives, yet when it came to the crunch, they were the first to reject the teachings of Jesus and accept him as the son of God. Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 12 not to be like the Pharisees. This group of learned men were pinnacle of society, well respected and ‘perfect’, yet Jesus calls them ‘hypocrites’. Why would Jesus challenge this people? Often, those whom we idolise or look up to who seem to have it together are battling personal problems in their lives, however big or small and don’t know the way out of these situations. Someone who looks like life is perfect, could be having problems because while theyare surrounded by many people, they feel so alone.

So many examples can arise from looking at the lives of people from past and present who seem to be perfect but are living lives which are less than perfect.

lets look at the top 4 Imperfect legends God used.

1. [King] David.

Lets set the scene:

Israel had been crying out to the prophet Samuel for a King asthe wanted someone to rule over them. Samuel’s own sons were set as judges, however, their behaviour was not like their father’s and they were very dishonest. The people wanted a king. Samuel was hurt by this and prayed to God. Gods response in 1 Samuel 8 vs 7:

“Listen to whatever the people are saying, they havent rejected you, they have rejected me as their King”

» Enter Saul. A humble man who tended to his father’s animals is someone  that God appointed as King through Samuel. Long story short, Saul becomes King of Isreal. Everything is going well, however here is a man who takes it upon him s elf to not be patient and do a sacrifice. Samuel who is meant to come and do the sacrifice comes back to find Saul has already done it. Saul tells him that the offering is not so much what he delights in, rather to be obedient to him. It is during this time that the spirit of God leaves Saul. [a whole discussion to be had on this subject, maybe for another date]

» Enter David. The youngest in the family of Jesse. Samuel is instructed my the Lord to pick one of Jesse’s son as King. Naturally Samuel thinks that one of the older sons would be suitable. Yet God remind Samuel that it is not about ‘size or stature’. Samuel asks Jesse again, are these all the sons you have. Interesting, Jesse leaves David almost out of the picture. Sometimes, rejection can come from our own families. David being the physically weaker son, was not even considered to be a mighty man that he could be by his father and brother’s. Yet we should remember our destiny is not in man, but in God’s hand. David’s relentless faith in God saw him defeat Lions and Bears with his own hands and also defeat the Philistinean giant Goliath with a sling and stone, with the help of God. The Kingdom is taken from Saul and Given to David, King David.

»Fastforward. King David is now older many battles have been won with God on his side, and now temptation has now gripped him. He surcumbs to hius lust for the lady on the roof, and sleeps with her. All the while, her husband (Uriah) is one of the top men in th army. He is so devoted to King David that Davids request that he spend a night with his wife Bethsheba is not done, due to his regard for pre War conduct. David is in a serious pickle, becuase Bethsheba has now fallen pregnant and David wants to cover it up (remember there was no Paternal testing kits back then!) David orders for Uriah’s murder by putting him in the front line of battle where he most certainly would be killed. Uriah is killed.

David was a man who kept getting it wrong, but his love for God was something God honoured. This wasnt to say there were no consequences for his actions. Yet it was through this man, that God decided that his lineage would be which Jesus Christ would be born through.

2. Gideon

3. Peter

4. Paul

Overall, these are men by all standards had some issues. Yet God proved himself mighty in their lives. Who are we most like, that we feel we are unable to come to God?? Are we like David, have a strong zeal for God, but have grown up rejected, and or making mistakes where our flesh has won against what we know is right to do? Or are we like Gideon……? are we Peter’s ……..? Or are we like Paul, so quick to reject the Lord………

tbf.

Posted 8 months ago