Least Likely

10/18/15

Acts 9. 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. – Saint Luke, the physician

God can make a saint out of anybody; we need to remember that. It may not look like it would ever happen, but it can, and it does. The least likely can, and does, become a disciple of Christ. All it takes is an encounter with the Living God. Saul of Tarsus is a prime example of what the power of God can do.

I’m not sure why religion does what it does. Religion can make one more religious but it can also make one more rebellious. One thing religion can’t do is make one righteous; only God can do that.

In my reading this morning I read a verse in Job 2 which reads: ‘Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?’ Many with a religious point of view would say, No, man cannot be right or pure before God; it’s hopeless. That is why the religious have to work so hard, they’re trying to win God’s favor.

That was the motivation for Saul of Tarsus – he was working very hard to score points with God by persecuting those who didn’t agree with what he believed God believed. The religious can’t stand non-conformists. But God chose Saul, one of the most unlikely to become His servant. God brought Saul (later renamed Paul) out of religion and into relationship with Himself. Many thought God had made a mistake. And they were very suspicious of Saul and his new-found religion.

It seems God loves to shock us into a new dimension. I’m sure those folks in Jerusalem, those days, were shocked that their enemy Saul, had become one of them. Do you suppose God maybe does that to encourage His people that only He can make something out of seemingly nothing? And the answer to the question in Job: Yes, a mortal can be right and pure before God; he just can’t do it in his own strength, power, cleverness, and ability – he can only be right and pure before God in Jesus Christ.

Religion demands one to be right. Relationship demands one to be humble. Saul learned humility by suffering as God’s chosen servant and was called righteous. What about us?

I’ve heard it said when we get to Heaven, we’ll be shocked by those we see there we didn’t expect to see. There’ll also be those who will be shocked when they see us walk in the front door to the party… Relationship with God changed everything; and relationship with God will grinds off the old and reveals the new.

Lord, thank You for choosing me; one who also was for many years voted least likely to succeed at much of anything. You called me from religion and brought me into relationship and it grows every day. May I pray for the least likely, and may I be shocked one day when I meet them in Heaven; I’ll know that You always did Your best work with the least likely. Amen