A privileged position

During the 1981 European basketball championship games, one player stood out from all the rest: RICHARDS, the Englishman.

He wasn't the best player, but he received an honourable mention. Something about Richards made him more important than all the others: he played on an prosthetic leg.

Sometimes our value is greater because of our limitations. Although many have not yet learned to recognise our significance and our privileged position, the Bible is full of examples of people who not only ignored their limitations but even influenced the heart of God!

People in a privileged position are not necessarily the owners of enormous businesses, or great intellectuals. Nor are they always surrounded by fame, power and possessions.

The majority of these privileged people are unknowns who struggle against great limitations. No- one pays any attention to them... well, almost no-one. Because sometimes they touch the heart of God.

Have you read the story of Abraham in Genesis 18? I know it's only a literary example, so to speak, but doesn't it give you goosebumps to hear God himself say to one of his children: "Now leave me alone so that I may destroy them"?

God talks with Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. What a privilege - God asking for a mortal man's opinion! Then he even listens and accepts Abraham's "conditions"! It is too wonderful to comprehend.

Not everyone can do this; only those who have reached such a deep level of intimacy with God can come to understand his motives. This degree of intimacy is not reached by any "mystical illumination", nor by physical discipline or mortification.

No; God keeps his door open, hoping we will visit him. God wants to hear from our own lips how things are going with us.

At the same time, he pours out his knowledge on us. No-one can grow in intimacy with a friend unless he spends hours with him in conversation and companionship.

God has no limitations. God doesn't worry about our personal traits. He loves us and wants to give us a privileged position. His greatest desire is to have a deep relationship with us, his children.

He expects you to be completely transparent with him and make use of what you have, even if you are an unknown with a false leg. God wants to be your friend on a close, personal level.