In working out how God could ever use us in His service, I thought this light hearted read might be worth while reflecting on how God uses people who are faithful and obedient to Him.
Adam: Good man but has problems with his wife. One reference told us how he and his wife enjoyed walking nude in the woods.
Noah: Former pastorate for 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects.
Joseph: A big thinker, but braggart; believes in dream interpreting and has a prison record.
Moses: A modest and meek man, but poor communicator; even stutters at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly in business meetings. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge.
Deborah: One word – Female.
David: The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbour’s wife.
Solomon: Great preacher, but serious woman problem.
Elijah: Prone to depression; collapses under pressure.
Hosea: A tender and loving pastor, but our people could never handle his wife’s occupation.
Jonah: Told us he was swallowed up by a great fish. He said the fish later spat him out on the shore near here. We hung up.
Amos: Too much of a country hick. Backward and unpolished. With some seminary training, he might have promise; but he has a hang-up against wealthy people.
John: Says he is a Baptist, but doesn’t dress like one. May be too Pentecostal. Tends to lift both hands in the air to worship when he gets excited. You know we limit it to one hand. Sleeps in the outdoors, has a weird diet and provokes denominational leaders.
Peter: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper, even said to have cursed. He’s a loose cannon.
Paul: Powerful CEO type and fascinating preacher. However, he’s short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
Timothy: Too young.
Jesus: Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5000, He managed to offend them all and his church dwindled down to 12 people. Seldom stays in one place very long and of course, he is single.
Judas: His references are solid A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We’re inviting him to preach this Sunday in view of a call to serve in the suggested ministry position.
I remember reading a similar personnel review of the 12 apostles and once again, when we judge people by the exterior we often get the wrong people doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. God uses all sorts of people as long as those people are faithful and obedient to him.
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17