He Does Not Call The Qualified But He Qualifies The Called
“For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous! But those who know they are sinners.”
Matthew 9:13b
How does God transform the weaknesses of His disciples into strengths? He first must reveal to them their weaknesses (sinfulness) and then He reveals that we are essentially powerless with our own will power to change these weaknesses into strengths. As a child and early teen, though I had a reckless, “I want to prove I am brave” side to me I was basically cautious, tentative and I am ashamed to admit at times cowardly. And for being the son of a World War II Marine fighter pilot hero that is hard to swallow. The very few physical fights I got into as a youth, I had to be pushed into until I “snapped” and out of control anger took over. My “default” was to just freeze, not fight or flight. This pattern was so ingrained that I thought it was just who I was.
Another quality I am not proud of was my tendency to not persevere through things, to quit when they became too difficult. I started to label myself as a “quitter.” I started lots of things but I didn’t stay with them. I am ashamed of these character qualities that became a repeating pattern for me. These characteristics are not godly or even admirable. In fact, the Bible lists cowardice with the qualities which will prevent a person from entering God’s kingdom (Revelation 21:8) The Bible also says those who do not persevere or endure will not receive eternal life. (Romans 2:7) So these faults of mine weren’t minor but “quite majah” as my British friends would say.
Here is the good news for me and all of us who struggle with Character issues. I will write this in capital letters! GOD DOES NOT CALL THE QUALIFIED BUT RATHER HE QUALIFIES THOSE HE CALLS!” These sins of omission (not doing something when I should have done something) rather than sins of commission (doing something when I shouldn’t have been doing something) are what bother me the most. Many times I took “the path of least resistance,” or what appeared to be the easiest course at the time.
But when I became a follower of Christ Jesus the Bible says that I became a “new creation” in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17) The butterfly is a symbol that many Christians identify with. This creature now defies the gravity of the world and is transformed from something which was quite common looking into something dazzlingly spellbinding to watch. The Christian transformation, unlike the butterfly isn’t quite as sudden but it is no less dramatic! For me, I took “baby steps” of courage and perseverance when I knew I would encounter opposition to open my mouth and identify with Jesus Christ in a public setting. Through the years I have been forced to fight for others and not freeze and do nothing. The nature of Christ in me has slowly but surely emerged from the cocoon of my own natural unbelieving self-protection.
If any qualities of courage and perseverance have been seen in me, it is “not I but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). He gets all the credit. He doesn’t call the qualified but rather He qualifies the called. He is patiently and persistently working on us until the qualities He desires become visibly a part of who we truly are. We should not be surprised that we are continually challenged to come face to face with our past character weaknesses.
For example for me, I find myself in a job now that requires…drum roll please.....courage and perseverance! Since the Lord is both courageous and persevering, the cross being the ultimate illustration of that, He is committed to forming those same qualities in me. I have sticky notes right now on my computer at work, one is 2 Timothy 1:7 “For you have not been given the spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a sound mind.” (courage) and Galatians 6:9 “let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (perserverance)
Does that job just happen to require those things of me? Not a chance! I am right where I am supposed to be for Christ to finish the work He began inside me so many years ago. (Philippians 1:6) What about the times when I feel like that young boy and early teen and am tempted to act out of those feelings of who I am? I turn a deaf ear to the satanic lies he tries to whisper in my ear. Instead, I listen to what God’s word says about who I am now Christ. And most of all, I thank the Lord that He DOES NOT CALL THE QUALIFIED BUT … QUALIFIES THE CALLED!
Jamie Bohnett
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