HIPOs

Corporate America loves using sports analogies.

Me? Not so much.

But here we go anyways.

Companies often talk about "bench strength" and how important it is to fill the bench with lots of HIPOs (high potential) employees) so when the top performers have to step out, the HIPOs are ready to step up.

Organizations choose their HIPOs carefully as they usually invest a lot of time and money into their growth and development, preparing them for their ascension into greatness.

This got me thinking about who Jesus chose as His disciples.

You would think He'd want to pick the best of the best.

The ones with the highest education and religiosity.

The ones who had the most scriptures memorized and followed every rule perfectly.

The ones with no sins, bad habits, addictions, illnesses, or blemishes of any sort.

You'd think Jesus would have filled the bench with HIPOS (Holy, innocent, perfect, obedient, and spotless).

But that's not who Jesus chose as His closest companions.

Jesus chose disciples who, like us, were imperfect, broken misfits who struggled with ego, fear, weaknesses, worries, and doubts.

They weren't perfect, holier-than-thou people.

They weren't the best of the best or cream of the crop.

They were just willing to say Yes and leave the comforts of what they knew to follow and learn from Jesus.

As those regular, ordinary men and women followed and learned firsthand from the Son of God, they wrestled, questioned, and bounced ideas around with Jesus, who welcomed their doubts and concerns.

They learned, unlearned, and relearned.

They watched, participated, and emulated

And as they did, their lives and the world as we know it were forever changed.

And here we are, thousands of years later.

Learning. Unlearning. Relearning.

Trying, changing, reforming.

God still calls His ordinary, misfit, trying their best, beloved children to follow Him..

But He doesn't want us sitting on a bench only to be used once we meet some unattainable, imaginary goody-goody status.

He wants us out there, following Him, just as we are.

Learning.

Trying.

Doubting.

Wrestling.

Changing.

As was the case thousands of years ago, Jesus doesn't require perfection or exceptional intellect, just an open heart and a willingness to learn.

God knows we have high potential.

He sees greatness in us because He's the one who put it there!

It takes the pressure off a bit, doesn't it?

It's not about us, so we can stop trying to be perfect; that's unattainable and a waste of time.

Besides, I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't want fancy-dancy performers; He wants humble hearts who will say yes to the call and follow Him forward.

The God of the Most High is calling His HIPOs off the bench.

Yes, I'm talking about you.

And you.

And you.

And yeah, even you.

Let's get out there and follow Him forward, shall we?

2 Corinthians 3: 4-5

Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Romans 5:8

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.