A Bunch of No-Name, Lowlifes - A Sunday Morning Surprise
Imagine what David must have thought in the years following his anointing by the prophet Samuel as the next king of Israel. He spent the next many years as an outlaw running for his life from King Saul. Now God was beginning to bring men to support David. But what kind of men? The down-and-out. God gave David not the elite or the sophisticated; He gave him those who were in debt and discontented with life. Many were outlaws or outcast like himself that could only improve their situation by helping David become king.
David turned those men into the best fighting men of their day. In fact, David never lost a battle during his entire reign as king of Israel -- quite a feat for a bunch of no-name, lowlifes! David's control over this band of men again shows his resourcefulness and ability to lead and motivate others. It took great leadership to mold together the kind of men that followed David. This group eventually formed the core of his military leadership and became know as "the heroic men in David's army" (2 Samuel 23:8ff). The mighty warriors.
The pastor of the church where I came to know Jesus, one Sunday morning made a rather unusual request. He asked each of us to write on a piece of paper the worst sin we thought we had ever committed (not disclosing our identity). We then placed it into the collection bag and it was returned to the pastor in the pulpit. I remember thinking that mine must rank near the top. After all it was a very fundamental spirit fill church occupied by many warriors for Christ. I know most of them personally and they present themselves to the world as good Christians.
A shock struck the congregation as the pastor began to retrieve the pieces of paper and read aloud. Drug and alcohol addiction, drug dealing, pornography, thievery, wife abuse, child abuse, incest, adultery, homosexuality and even two murders. It suddenly began to sink in that God had taken a bunch of no-name, lowlifes - changed us - and was teaching us to become mighty warriors. I can't remember a time when the Spirit had appeared as it did that Sunday morning, and the altars begin to fill. Many sons and daughters we had been praying for, for years, came to know Christ that day, along with many other lives that were changed.
Jesus also took a few men who weren't exactly the cream of the crop either. He built His life into these men, which resulted in 12 men who turned the world upside down. David and Jesus set the example of what can be done when we invest in others. God does extraordinary things through men who have an extraordinary God. Ask God to use your life to be a mighty man or woman for a cause greater than yourself. He delights in such prayers.
Another example: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."-- Acts 4:13
Acts 4:13 tells us these leaders were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus".
Maybe God has not called you to be a pastor or missionary that requires seminary training. But 2 Chronicles 16:9 says that God is looking to show himself strong on behalf of men and women whose hearts are loyal to Him. God is looking more for availability than for ability. All Christians can make themselves available to Him?
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About the Author
Author: Ray Turner -- Retired school teacher from Oklahoma State University's School of Technical Training "Communications". Website dedicated to encourage and teach others to find God's gifts in their life, and to use them to bring others to Christ. http://thebridgetochurch.com/.