You Ain't All That, BUT...

TOPIC: Discipleship

SCRIPTURE: "For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." (Ps. 103:14)

OBSERVATION: As I was reading today the phrase that caught my attention was, "we are but dust."
Dust = the small particles of dirt that settle on horizontal surfaces in buildings

APPLICATION: As I was reading today it caused me to think about a video I saw last year entitled Dust by Rob Bell. I felt like I was suppose to share it with you. If you would like to full version visit http://www.nooma.com/ click on NOOMA Dust 008.

"A disciple doesn't just want to know what the rabbi knows
A disciple wants to be like the rabbi and wants to learn to do what the rabbi does.

Would you consider yourself a disciple?

In thinking about Jesus' disciples, when he called them to follow him some were fishermen.

If they're fishermen and Jesus calls them to be his disciples, then they're not following another rabbi; and if they're not following another rabbi they were not the best of the best, in that culture. They didn't make the cut.

What message was Jesus sending us by NOT choosing the best of the best?

1 Cor. 1:26-29
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. [27] Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. [28] God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, [29] so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

It's like a movement of anybodies and he calls them - the JV, the B team, the 'not-good-enoughs.' He calls them to be his disciples and they change the course of human history.

What impact are you having on the course of human history?

Faith in Jesus is important, but what about Jesus' faith in us?
I mean he must have faith in us because he leaves it all in the hands of these disciples.

Do yo believe that God believes in you?

Jesus has faith that you can follow him and that you can be like him.

What does it mean to be like Jesus?
Can you do it?

Believing in God is important, but what about God believing in us? Believing that we can actually be the kind of people we were meant to be. People of love, compassion, peace, forgiveness, and hope. People who try to do the right thing all of the time. Who act on the endless opportunities around us every day for good, beauty, and truth. It’s easy for us to sometimes get down on ourselves. To feel “not good enough” or feel like we don’t have what it takes. But maybe if we had more insight into the culture that Jesus grew up in and some of the radical things he did, we’d understand the faith that God has in all of us.

May you believe in God. But may you come to see that God believes in you. may you have faith in Jesus. But may you come to see that Jesus has faith that you can be like him. A person of love and compassion and truth. A person of forgivness, and peace, and grace, and joy, and hope."


PRAYER: Father God, thank you for using this phrase to remind me of my frame, that I am not all that, and thank you for using Rob Bell to remind me that you trust me to fulfill your work. You're awesome!!!