In the system of the world, people choose leaders who they are willing to follow by examining their personalities and attributes (speaking prowess, financial acumen, etc…) They look for qualities which they feel they can see promise in; qualities which they feel will help them achieve those things they aspire to.
In contrast, God chooses according to His own selection. He chose David who was overlooked even by his own father and raised him up as king while the people had chosen Saul who stood taller than those around him and was preferred by the people over His servant Prophet Samuel. We see this also with God choosing Moses who had a soft voice. The Lord used Him even when Moses contested and asked the Lord to send his brother instead. (1 Samuel 9:1, 10:24, 15:35, 16:11; Exodus 4:10-16)
We see that concerning God’s election for stewardship of His holy knowledge, God is not a respecter of persons but selects according to faith. So also we see that all those of faith follow after Him in recognition of His governance by despising not those whom He has chosen to raise up as stewards of His own house.
This is a very different system and house than what we see in the chuches today where leaders are elected by screening and evaluation as one would hire a new employee best suited to serve the purposes of the organization.
We can also see within congregations of the churches today that people are seeking Christ within the relationships that are formed between individuals. This is often the goal of programs and events designed to encourage socialization between members and for the weaving together of lives into a tapestry which they feel brings glory and honor to God because of the purity of their intentions and zeal to please Him.
When they seek to find Christ or demonstrate Christ within these relationships, they begin to develop a need or dependency upon these relationships to see Christ. This shifts focus from the bonds of charity which lash us to the altar of Christ to the straps of the soil which keep us in bondage to the cares of the world. Apostles of Christ preach of the covenant and priesthood of Christ for it is the spiritual priesthood of Christ which sets the pattern and provides the power for us to experience liberty in Christ.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Acts 10:1-6 (God manifests His grace in the form of a vision by His Spirit to direct Cornelius and his house to His selected steward.)
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
Ephesians 3:8-12
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephesians 3:8-12
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Seek Him where He is to be found.
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