Spiritual Snack...

Unworthy Applicant

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:1-2

God will forgive us; all we have to do is ask. However, receiving forgiveness from others is another issue entirely. For in Christian congregations, some sins are definitely more public than others. Let’s face it; we live in a scandalous age where gossip and judgments abound.

Imagine if your local Christian congregation is trying to fill the position of worship leader for their new alternative service. After a month of searching, the church has only three applications in hand, but needs to make a decision.

1. The first applicant is a good songwriter with a powerful voice, but he is not formally educated and is only 18 years old.

2. The second is a jack-of-all-trades. He is a popular producer, artist, singer and songwriter that plays various instruments. However, he is always on the road touring his solo albums, and this new leadership position would more than overload his already busy schedule.

3. The final applicant is an amazing songwriter, with over 100 published songs. He is older and wiser than the others, and he was once the worship leader of a massive congregation. At first he sounds perfect, but as you research his past you find out that he had an affair he recently had with his neighbor's wife. Then your background check reveals that he attempted to cover up a felony on his record. It turns out that he is a murderer.

Who would you hire? I doubt that any church today would even consider hiring the third applicant with his history of murder and adultery. Regrettably they just rejected King David. He was God’s anointed. In spite of his detestable actions, he was the one that the Lord chose to lead His people into worship. Though he fell hard, he eventually got on his knees and penned his most heartfelt song of repentance (Psalm 51).

While we are so eager to cast the first stone, we overlook that we are all sinners. We look for perfection in our fellow Christians, yet only one man in the Bible fits that bill--Jesus. And if this “perfect man” is in the business of forgiveness, then we should be also.

Unlike most churches, God is not in search of the perfect applicant. He is looking for a “broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17).

Lord, please forgive me for judging others by their sordid pasts. Regardless of their history, help me to see Your children as you see them. I thank You Lord for choosing me despite my horrible track record. Use me Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Mark Mohr