Choosing the Weak

For consider your calling, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. I Corinthians 1:26-29

There was a program for a while, where a person was booted off with the phrase, "you are the weakest link!" Football season is back again and we hear of the power and might of certain people and teams. Most of us never measure up to what our own expectations are, let alone measure up to the standards of others. We are more weak than we want to be, more vulnerable and don't get in all the exercise we should to be fit and strong. Some people do, and some are close to perfect. Some people are stars, famous and beautiful. Most of us are not. We are just trying to do the best we can. Most of us don't get picked for the team. Some feel they have nothing to contribute.

Paul reminds us today that "God chose what is weak". Our service and leadership come not from our power but from our vulnerability and our weakness. God chooses us today - the last in line, the timid, the unsuccessful, the stumbler and the losers - God chooses us today to bring love to the world. None of us can say we don't qualify to be God's hands and hearts in this world, because God chooses people like us, broken and challenged, to be ministers, lay and ordained alike.

Every time we stumble today may we know that to be a sign of our calling. Every time we fail, may we remember that we have been chosen by God. Every time we are overwhelmed with our own failings, may we remember that God is with us, today, for the sake of the whole world.