Twelve Ordinary Stones

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.”

— Luke 6:12–13 (NIV)

It’s easy to think God only uses polished people—

the ones with credentials, confidence, or a clear direction.

People who look like they know what they’re doing.

But if the Gospels teach us anything, it’s this:

God doesn’t build His kingdom with impressive stones—He builds it with surrendered ones.

Stones He can shape. Mold. Turn into something lasting and beautiful.

The more I read the Gospels—and recently, A.B. Bruce’s The Training of the Twelve—the more convinced I am:

Jesus wasn’t drawn to polished, perfect stones. He was drawn to the rough ones—the ones He could work with.

When Jesus chose the Twelve—the stones on which to build His church—He didn’t do it in a rush or under pressure.

Luke tells us He prayed all night before He called their names.

This wasn’t a random selection—it was a deliberate unveiling.

He picked exactly who He wanted.

And they weren’t the obvious picks.

They were fishermen, a tax collector, a political zealot, and several others we barely hear about again.

Bruce even calls them “a very insignificant company indeed.”

But then he adds the part that stops me:

“He was quite content with His choice, and devoutly thanked His Father for giving Him even such as they… He preferred devoted men who had none of these advantages to undevoted men who had them all.”

He could have chosen more beautiful stones to start with.

Nicodemus. Joseph of Arimathea. Even Gamaliel—Saul’s own mentor.

All of them respected, educated, deeply religious—and also shaped by God to play a role in His unfolding story.

Jesus would have gladly accepted them.

But they wouldn’t choose Him—

Not as a suffering Savior.

Not as the friend of sinners.

So He turned to those who didn’t have to be talked out of their pride.

He turned to the ones who had already laid it all down.

The stones He chose to shape weren’t perfect. They were far from it—

slow to understand, prone to argue, and each came with their own baggage.

One even turned against Him and betrayed His trust.

But they were willing to follow.

That’s what Jesus was looking for.

And that’s what He’s still looking for.

Not the ones who have it all together.

Not the ones who impress the room.

But the ones who say, “Whatever I have, it’s Yours.”

That means there’s hope for people like us—

people who’ve messed up more times than we can count,

who still don’t know what we’re doing with our lives,

and who are just trying to make it through the day.

Because in the kingdom of God, surrender and sacrifice matter more than religion and experience.

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Reflection Question

If Jesus showed up today and said, “Follow Me,” what would be the hardest thing for you to leave behind?

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Prayer

Jesus,

I know that I don’t have much to offer,

But God, I want to be a stone You can use.

Help me let go of anything I’m clinging to more tightly than You.

Mold me and shape me into what You desire me to become.

Teach me what it means to follow with a whole heart,

even when I feel small or unqualified.

I’d rather be Yours than impressive.

Amen.