Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 76
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
Qualifications
are a mysterious phenomenon in Christianity.
First of all, so many fall into the trap of listing “qualifications” as
to whether someone really IS a Christian, or not…in the one’s mind who is
coming up with the particular qualifications.
Unbelievable. John 3:16 is God’s
simple “qualifier” for that question.
And then we have the qualifications of whether someone should be a
pastor, or not. A teacher, or not. A bus captain, or not. An usher, or not. And the list of qualifications for each goes
on and on and on and on… And, of course,
someone is always getting offended because another does not live up to their
list of qualifications. Oh, I guess they
have forgotten God’s “warning” in Psalm 119:165.
Day 15
Are You Qualified?
He came to His hometown and began teaching them in their
synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this
wisdom and these miraculous powers? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His
mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And
His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these
things?” And they took offense at Him. --Matthew 13:54-57
Often people are questioned as to where they are from so
that who they are and what they are about can be discounted. In the same way,
people look for a source for God so He can be discounted; they have a vested
interest in His existing only in the imaginings of man.
The
topic of qualifications has come up more than once in my
life, normally in one of two forms. Either someone is attempting to position himself above me in spiritual
competition or he wants to discount what I say. The competition is
obviously counterproductive, for once a person feigns spiritual authority over
another, he proves that he has none. When qualifications are used to discount
the teaching, question after question is asked until that end is achieved in
the person’s mind. The funny thing is that the majority of Bible schools and
seminaries could be sued for false advertising, for only Jesus Himself can
create in a person what their brochures claim can be provided through
education. Also, there is the problem of wisdom. It is so disheartening for one
who has spent so much time in school and trusts in his knowledge when an
abiding brother or sister without such systematic instruction says something
that thrills the heart. This causes jealousy and resentment among the educated
ones who rely on the training of their flesh. We are given everything pertaining to life and godliness in
Christ Jesus the day we believe in Him; there is no more qualifying to be done.
In fact, when any
Christian starts requiring me to meet some criteria, I know I am with a carnal
man and will leave.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Imagine…the absurdity of looking “for a source for God so that He can be
discounted”…what is that?!? Looking for
a source for The Source?
Michael gives us the two reasons people like qualification lists: (1)
“someone is attempting to position himself above me in spiritual competition,”
or (2) “he wants to discount what I say.”
Don’t you just love the verse Michael refers to…(2 Peter 1:3)…that
speaks to our being qualified in God’s eyes the day we met the Lord Jesus
Christ. Well, amen. Let us look for and listen to those who
simply are abiding in Christ and letting Him do their talking…
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Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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