Embracing Our Flaws: God's Call to Misfits
Summary
In this message, we explore the theme of feeling like a misfit, drawing inspiration from the classic movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." The story of Rudolph, with his unique red nose, serves as a metaphor for the aspects of our lives that we often try to hide or feel ashamed of. These "red noses" can be anything from past mistakes, addictions, anger, or even disappointments in ourselves, others, or God. We all have something that makes us feel disqualified or like we don't belong, especially in a place like church.
The good news is that God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Just as Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector and societal outcast, to follow Him, He calls each of us despite our flaws and imperfections. Jesus is comfortable with our brokenness and desires a relationship with us, not because we are perfect, but because He loves us as we are. He sees beyond our red noses and invites us to follow Him, transforming our lives in the process.
Religious folks in Jesus' time were critical of His association with sinners, much like how people today can be judgmental of others' visible flaws. However, Jesus teaches us not to judge others without first acknowledging our own shortcomings. We are reminded that our red noses, the very things we think disqualify us, can be used by God to shine His light through us. Our weaknesses can become our strengths when surrendered to Him.
Ultimately, Jesus chose us, not because we are without sin, but because He sees our potential and desires to use our lives for His glory. Our red noses don't disqualify us; they can be the very things that God uses to lead others out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Key Takeaways:
1. Embrace Your Red Nose: Like Rudolph, we all have aspects of our lives that make us feel like misfits. These "red noses" can be past mistakes or personal struggles. Yet, God sees beyond these and calls us to embrace them as part of our unique journey. Our weaknesses can become strengths when surrendered to God. [08:28]
2. God Qualifies the Called: God doesn't wait for us to be perfect before He calls us. He chooses us despite our flaws, just as Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector. Our imperfections don't disqualify us; rather, they are opportunities for God to demonstrate His grace and power in our lives. [10:48]
3. Jesus is Comfortable with Our Brokenness: Jesus is not deterred by our imperfections. He is comfortable being in relationship with us, knowing our deepest struggles. This comfort should encourage us to be open and honest with Him, trusting that He loves us as we are. [16:21]
4. Avoid Judgmental Attitudes: It's easy to be critical of others' visible flaws while ignoring our own. Jesus teaches us to first address our own shortcomings before judging others. This approach fosters compassion and understanding, allowing us to support one another in our spiritual journeys. [24:09]
5. Your Red Nose Can Be a Light: The very things we think disqualify us can be used by God to shine His light through us. Our past struggles and weaknesses can become testimonies of God's grace, leading others to Him. Embrace your story and allow God to use it for His glory. [35:01]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - The Excitement of Christmas
[08:28] - Embracing Our Red Noses
[09:25] - Hiding Our Imperfections
[10:48] - God Qualifies the Called
[11:37] - Jesus' Radical Love
[14:35] - Matthew's Story
[15:36] - Jesus' Comfort with Sinners
[16:21] - Embracing Our Brokenness
[19:14] - Religious Criticism
[22:15] - The Danger of Judgment
[24:09] - Seeing Through Our Own Brokenness
[26:26] - Recognizing God's Purpose
[27:16] - Jesus Chose You
[28:26] - The Power of Our Testimonies
[30:18] - Rudolph's Red Nose as a Light
[33:28] - God's Pursuit of Us
[35:01] - Our Weaknesses as Strengths
[36:50] - Transformation Through Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 9:9-13
- Matthew 7:1-5
- John 15:16
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 9:9-13, what was Jesus' response to the criticism from the Pharisees about dining with tax collectors and sinners? How does this reflect His mission? [11:37]
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of "red noses" that people might try to hide? [08:28]
3. How does the sermon describe Jesus' attitude towards those with "red noses" or imperfections? [16:21]
4. What does Matthew 7:1-5 teach about judgment, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message on avoiding judgmental attitudes? [24:09]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have chosen someone like Matthew, a tax collector, to be His disciple, and what does this choice reveal about God's view of our "red noses"? [10:48]
2. How does the sermon suggest that our weaknesses or "red noses" can be transformed into strengths when surrendered to God? [35:01]
3. What does the sermon imply about the role of community in addressing our own "red noses" and supporting others with theirs? [24:58]
4. How does John 15:16 challenge the common perception of who chooses whom in the relationship between God and believers? [28:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a "red nose" in your life that you have tried to hide. How might embracing it as part of your journey change your perspective? [08:28]
2. In what ways can you remind yourself that God qualifies the called, even when you feel unworthy or disqualified? [10:48]
3. How can you cultivate a non-judgmental attitude towards others, especially when their "red noses" are visible? What steps can you take to address your own shortcomings first? [24:09]
4. Think of a time when you felt like a misfit in a community, including the church. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently now, knowing Jesus' comfort with brokenness? [16:21]
5. Identify a specific area in your life where you can allow God to use your past struggles as a testimony to help others. How can you take a step towards sharing your story this week? [35:01]
6. How can you actively remind yourself of Jesus' choice of you, despite your imperfections, and what impact does this have on your daily life? [28:26]
7. Consider someone in your life who might feel like a misfit. How can you reach out to them this week to show them they are valued and loved, just as Jesus did with Matthew? [11:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Your Unique Journey
In life, we often encounter aspects of ourselves that make us feel like misfits, much like Rudolph with his red nose. These "red noses" can be past mistakes, personal struggles, or anything that makes us feel disqualified. However, God sees beyond these imperfections and calls us to embrace them as part of our unique journey. When we surrender our weaknesses to God, they can become strengths. This transformation is not about hiding our flaws but allowing God to use them for His purpose. Embracing our red noses means accepting that our imperfections are part of the story God is writing in our lives. [08:28]
"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: What is one "red nose" in your life that you have been hiding? How can you begin to embrace it as part of your unique journey with God today?
Day 2: God Sees Potential in Imperfection
God does not wait for us to be perfect before He calls us. He chooses us despite our flaws, just as Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector and societal outcast. Our imperfections are not disqualifications but opportunities for God to demonstrate His grace and power in our lives. This truth challenges us to see ourselves through God's eyes, recognizing that He sees potential where we see failure. By accepting His call, we allow Him to work through our weaknesses, turning them into testimonies of His love and grace. [10:48]
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel most imperfect? How can you invite God to demonstrate His power through this imperfection today?
Day 3: Jesus Welcomes Our Brokenness
Jesus is not deterred by our imperfections. He is comfortable being in a relationship with us, knowing our deepest struggles. This comfort should encourage us to be open and honest with Him, trusting that He loves us as we are. Jesus' acceptance of our brokenness is a reminder that we do not need to hide our flaws from Him. Instead, we can bring them to Him, knowing that He desires to heal and transform us. This relationship is not based on our perfection but on His unconditional love. [16:21]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of brokenness you have been hesitant to bring to Jesus? How can you open up to Him about it today, trusting in His love and acceptance?
Day 4: Cultivate Compassion Over Judgment
It's easy to be critical of others' visible flaws while ignoring our own. Jesus teaches us to first address our own shortcomings before judging others. This approach fosters compassion and understanding, allowing us to support one another in our spiritual journeys. By recognizing our own need for grace, we become more empathetic towards others, creating a community that reflects God's love. This shift from judgment to compassion is essential for building relationships that honor God and uplift each other. [24:09]
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone you have judged harshly. How can you extend compassion and understanding to them today, acknowledging your own need for grace?
Day 5: Let Your Story Shine
The very things we think disqualify us can be used by God to shine His light through us. Our past struggles and weaknesses can become testimonies of God's grace, leading others to Him. Embracing your story means allowing God to use it for His glory, turning your red nose into a beacon of hope for others. By sharing how God has worked in your life, you can inspire others to seek His light in their own journeys. Your story, with all its imperfections, is a powerful tool in God's hands. [35:01]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: What part of your story have you been hesitant to share? How can you let it shine as a testimony of God's grace and light today?
Quotes
"But what I've learned, and I'm hoping that this is what we get across today, is that even though I have a relationship with God, a red nose, and even though I have some things, some brokenness, some things that may disqualify me, it doesn't stop me from having a Savior who wants to be in relationship with me. It doesn't stop my Savior, like Ryan just talked about, from pursuing me in my life. I've noticed that God does not just call qualified people with no red noses. You know why? There are none." [00:10:09] (39 seconds)
"On hearing this, Jesus said, it's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means. He says, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but to call the sick. But sinners. Can I get an amen from anybody that loves when Jesus talks like that? Come on, somebody. Are you with me in the room? I'm so thankful that I have a God that doesn't just look for perfect people because he knows he will never find them." [00:11:58] (36 seconds)
"Matthew would have had a huge red nose. Matthew wasn't even qualified to go into the synagogue. He would have been disqualified, in other words, to show up to church. He would have been disqualified as a tax collector to show up in God's house, based upon man's qualifications. But yet Jesus, who flips the script on a lot of things, comes by and sees Matthew with his blinking red nose tax collector self and says, hey, I see something in you." [00:15:06] (37 seconds)
"But yet Jesus is completely comfortable around sinners. He's completely comfortable with oftentimes the things that we use to disqualify someone else. Jesus is completely comfortable. Which shows me that if you've got a blinking red nose today, you've got something that you're trying to cover up. The one that knows you the best. He already knows about your red nose, regardless of how we try to cover it up. He's actually completely comfortable sitting next to you today." [00:16:55] (46 seconds)
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye when all the time there is a plank in your eye? Uh-oh, we talked about this, I think, last year or the year before. You hypocrite. Take the plank out of your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." [00:24:09] (27 seconds)
"See, it's not that we're not supposed to judge other fellow people. Brothers and sisters in Christ. It's just that we don't judge them by missing our own red nose, but we actually judge them through the lens of our own brokenness. We judge them through the lens of understanding that we have our own big, red, blinking, red nose." [00:25:11] (24 seconds)
"fully understand that God chose you, despite your hiccups, despite your goof-ups, despite your red nose, that God actually saw you while you were yet a sinner and still chose to die for you, When you fully and I fully can wrap my head around the idea that God" [00:28:26] (27 seconds)
"But the very thing, that the enemy tried to take me out with, and to destroy my life with, is actually the very thing that God is helping, to shine his light, the brightest, through Britt and I's life, and our ministry. This thing that should have disqualified us. The saying that all of you have heard me talk about with sexual addiction, and things that I had struggled with in my past, should have been a disqualifier." [00:33:28] (40 seconds)
"Your red nose doesn't disqualify you and it doesn't disqualify me. It actually can be the thing that qualifies you to do the very thing that God has called you and I to do." [00:37:22] (13 seconds)
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