An Imperfect Bunch He Loved and Used
Month 3: Come, Follow Me · Loving Others
Today's Scripture
Read together: Mark 3:16-19 & 1 Corinthians 1:27
16 These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter), 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. — Mark 3:16-19
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. — 1 Corinthians 1:27
Memory Verse
“He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,”— Mark 3:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 2 Samuel 14-17
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Absalom's rebellion brings heartache into David's house — even God's people are imperfect.)The Heart of It
Look closely at the list of the Twelve. There's Peter, who would one day loudly deny he even knew Jesus. There's James and John. They were nicknamed "Sons of Thunder" for their hot tempers. There's Matthew, a tax collector. He was the kind of man neighbors crossed the street to avoid. There's Simon the Zealot, who burned hot about politics. There's Thomas, who would doubt. And the list ends bluntly: "Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." This is not a hall of fame. It's a bunch of ordinary, flawed, mismatched men. Some of them couldn't have stood being in the same room before Jesus called them. Yet He chose every one of them. He loved them, ate with them, and handed them the greatest mission in history.
Paul tells us why: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… and the weak things… to put to shame the things which are mighty" (). Jesus doesn't wait for impressive, polished people. He loves and uses the overlooked, the rough-edged, the ones nobody picks. That changes how we treat people. It also changes how we see ourselves. You don't have to be the smartest, the strongest, or the most popular for Jesus to love you and use you. And what about the person at school or in the family that everyone else writes off? Jesus might be reaching for exactly them. We get to love people the way He does, not the way the world ranks them.
Around the Table
Jesus' helpers weren't perfect. But He loved them and used them anyway. He loves and can use YOU too!
Let's do it: Point to yourself and say, "Jesus loves me and can use me!" Then point to a sibling and say it about them.
Jesus picked a tax collector everyone disliked. He picked two hot-tempered brothers. Why would He choose people like that on purpose?
Let's talk: Is there someone others leave out that you could include this week, the way Jesus would?
The Twelve included doubters, a betrayer, and men who didn't get along. Jesus chooses "the weak things" so the glory goes to God, not to impressive people.
Let's go deeper: God loves to use the overlooked. How does that change the way you see yourself? How does it change the way you see "unimpressive" people?
💬 Conversation Starter
Who is someone people might overlook or count out? What's one good thing about them that others might be missing?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The Gospels honestly record the apostles' failures. They tell us about Peter's denial, the disciples' fear, and Judas' betrayal. Made-up heroes don't come with such embarrassing flaws. This raw honesty is a mark of truthful eyewitness testimony, not a flattering legend.
For Dad · Go Deeper
There is enormous freedom for a father in the makeup of the Twelve. Jesus did not build His church on competent, finished men. He built it on people still in process. And He did it on purpose, "that no flesh should glory in His presence" (). Maybe you've been waiting to feel qualified before you disciple your kids. You're waiting until your temper is fully tamed, your prayer life is consistent, your example is spotless. If so, you will wait forever, and you will have misread how Jesus works. He uses ordinary, repenting, in-process people. Your kids don't need a flawless father. They need a following father who is honest about his own need for grace. In fact, watching you repent and get back up may disciple them more deeply than watching you appear to have it all together. So learn from Jesus in the home too. Treat the harder child, the prickly one, the late-bloomer, the way Jesus treated His unlikely Twelve. They are someone He loves and is not finished with.
Draws on: Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You that You love and use imperfect people. That includes every one of us. Help our family to love the way You do, leaving no one out. Help us trust that You are not finished with us. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus loves and uses imperfect people. So I can stop waiting to be impressive, and start following.