Imagine that you were on an interview panel interviewing candidates for a job. Obviously what you look for in a candidate is dependant on the job, but I expect that most of us would agree that when in comes to character we would be looking for someone who is trustworthy and reliable, someone who is not going to let us down, someone who is not going to give away trade secrets to our competitors.
But there is only so much you can tell about a person from an interview or a CV. Imagine what it would be like if you could know everything that the candidate had already done - and even more incredible - everything that they were going to do in the future. I'm guessing that not many people would be getting hired!
Jesus knew everything there was to know about his disciples when he chose them. He knew that Judas was going to betray him, and he knew that Peter was going to deny him (John 13:18-38). Yet he still chose them. He still loved them. He still washed their feet.
I wonder how many of us disqualify ourselves from serving God because of the mistakes we've made. We know about God's forgiveness, and yet we are unable to accept it for ourselves. God can forgive others - but how can God forgive me after the things I've done?
The disciples were ordinary people who made some pretty big mistakes, and yet Jesus used them. Let's believe the promise that when we confess our mistakes we receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and let's not allow our past mistakes stop us from believing that God wants to use us again.
