It's a Good Thing God Loves Idiots

By Gobel Brockman


Here's a nice image for you in this Christmas season. Imagine you're watching a movie about the Christmas story. Someone informs Joseph and Mary that three wise men have arrived with gifts for the newborn King. They come in....and they're being portrayed by Moe, Curly, and Larry. (Stick with me, I'm going somewhere with this.)

Seem silly? Well, maybe not as much as you'd think. Let me explain. When Jesus began His public ministry, He chose 12 men to follow Him. They were fisherman, tax collectors, and other 'castoffs' that few would think would accomplish anything. They spent about three years walking, talking, and learning from Jesus. After His death, resurrection, and ascension, they returned to Jerusalem to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. After they received this gift, they proceeded to turn the world upside-down. People were being saved, healed, and set free from spiritual bondage. Miracles were taking place. As a result of one of those miracles, they were called before the Jewish authorities to explain their purpose. The disciples took the opportunity to boldly proclaim Jesus Christ. The Bible says something interesting about this meeting in Acts 4:13:

     "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."

I want to focus on the word 'ignorant.' In the original Greek the word used there is "Idiotes" meaning "a private person, i.e. (by implication) an ignoramus (compare "idiot"):--ignorant, rude, unlearned."

In the eyes of the world, these guys were 'idiots and ignoramuses', but it's also interesting that Bible also said this: "...they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." There's the key - they had been with Jesus. You can't stay in His presence and not be changed. These men who were nothing in the eyes of others were literally changing the world right before those same eyes. These 'Ignorant' men were healing people and preaching the Good News because they had been with Jesus.

The point this week isn't to tell you that you're an idiot. The point is that if you think you're too plain or simple to do anything for God, you're wrong. Jesus took fisherman and tax collectors and changed history, and He can do the same with you and me. If you spend time with Jesus, others around you are going to take notice of it. We may not turn the whole world upside-down, but perhaps God wants to use us to turn our world upside-down. As the Bible says, God loves to "use the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." So spend time with Jesus through His Word and prayer, let Him fill you with the Holy Spirit, and then go and be amazed by what He does through you.

I just hope you don't see The Three Stooges as the three wise men the next time you watch a Christmas movie. Sorry 'bout that. Nyuk nyuk nyuk....