Potential

Have you ever had a love/hate relationship with someone, where you are extremely thankful for them one day and it seems like the very next day, they do something that causes you to get incredibly frustrated with them? I’m sure we can all agree that there are times this happens to us, and maybe some of us more than we care to admit. Our ministry to the Liberians very much so has these times. This got me thinking about Jesus and how he sees us and those around us.

I find it interesting that Jesus  had the complete capability to raise up a mega church while He was here on earth, after all, He is the Messiah! What better leader could there possibly be then Jesus Himself? But Jesus didn’t do that. He didn’t cater to the masses, even though there were times that the crowds followed. He didn’t run to the synagogues or try to take over the Jewish temple. He didn’t chase after the mega church mentality of having hundreds and thousands of followers. No, Jesus chose 12. Jesus  saw great potential in this small intimate group. He knew that after He returned to heaven, they would be the ones who would literally spread the gospel around the world. The masses wouldn’t do that. The masses would move on to the next “messiah.” But these men would be touched so deeply that moving on only meant they were going to the next town to share about the fire burning within them. In fact, these men were so radical about their relationship with Christ that 10 out of the 12 of them were killed for their faith. The two exceptions: Judas Iscariot who had taken his own life and John who died of natural causes in his old age, of course he died while exile in Patmos. 

The disciples probably earned their fair share of frustration points with Jesus. They doubted, questioned, argued, and even betrayed Him. But not one of these things negated the potential that Christ saw in each of these men. It is amazing to me how Christ could continue to keep His focus on the end result when the disciples were constantly tripping over their own two feet. Yet, this is how we are called to work with others. We are called to see the Christ like potential in them, to foster that potential and help it to grow, even when they do not see it themselves. Christ did not give these men material possessions, but he fostered their relationship with Him. He watched that relationship grow, until the day came that these men could stand on their own two feet and have the ability to see the potential in others. That is what spreads the gospel, walking with people as they learn to walk with Christ. No more no less. 

How about us? Do we see the potential in those around us, or are we too busy getting frustrated with the little they “don’t know,” or  they “can’t do” to foster their God given gifts and abilities to be the next disciples for Jesus Christ who will take the gospel to the world?

Who are your 12? In other words, God is not calling us to the masses. He calls us to influence a small group of those around us. This has been a breath of fresh air to our family while on the mission field. It is so easy to get caught up in seeing all of the needs. But God is not calling us to ALL the needs, or for that matter, He is not calling us to All of the people either. He is calling us to our 12. We have had to ask ourselves who is the small intimate group of people God is calling us to see the potential in, to walk with, as they learn to walk with Christ?

For related reading: Holding Up The Hands of Others, Training Others in Kingdom Living, Call to One Another Living 

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your example. I thank you that you have modeled working with a small group  to empower them to become strong in you. What a relief it is to know that we do not need to feel the pressure or responsibility of shepherding hundreds, because truly that is just a bit intimidating. Thank you for giving us small chunks. Help us to see the potential in others, to walk with them as they learn to walk with you. We pray this in your precious name.
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