HAND ME DOWN
What it means to be CHOSEN
June 21st, 2023
Colossians 3:12-14, ‘So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.’ (MSG)
SOLID STONE
Doesn’t Simon Peter just remind you of one who would have balked at anything hand-me-down? In fact, I rather imagine him as someone who was burly, surly and brash. I conjure up an image of his momma pulling on passed-down pants from older siblings which are already high-water, and a shirt too tight on a little pumped-out chest with chubby arms poking through skintight sleeves. It makes me smile.
But we find Peter in so many precarious places that for me have become a solid platform on which much of my potential might eventually be realized. If Jesus can use an awkward numbskull like Peter, who speaks before he thinks and acts before he pauses, surely, He can also use me.
After all, Peter became a vessel Jesus fished from, though, in and out of. Where Peter is we always find lots of water, oceans of grace, nets seemingly empty now bursting their seams, and a multiplication of chances. Jesus takes Peter’s recklessness as certain as He steps into Peter’s fishing boat and pushes out from the shore. He filters Peter’s persistence and panic and walks to him on top of stormy waters with arms held wide open. He is found rescuing the bully when he sunk in the sea, and drowning in his denial and flailing from his pride. We later find Peter dressed in nothing more than humility while his Savior bakes him breakfast and serves up a pot of coffee.
Wonder what it felt like to be clothed in little else but Jesus’ grace, standing on a handful of promises and wrapped up in the Master’s purposes. Oh, wait! That’s me! That’s not only Peter, but me too, who Jesus has given more than multiple chances to, bid me come to Him, walking on the impossible, filled my emptiness to overflowing, worked on my hard-hearted foolishness, and chose to use me despite my rejection and impudence.
Isaiah 58:12a ‘I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places.’ (MSG)
you are His REMNANT
