All the Fitness He Requireth

This past Sunday's Lectionary readings included Psalm 130 and John 11: 1-45 (raising of Lazarus). In my personal reading last night, I read Jesus calling Peter, James, and John in Luke 5, and I noticed a common theme that, for me, is best expressed around the hymn "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy." The lines of which I've been particularly reminded are in the fourth verse:

Let not conscience make you linger
Nor of fitness fondly dream
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him. 

I referred to the story in John as the raising of Lazarus, but verses 17-27 are really a story about Martha. Martha expresses belief that had Jesus been there, he would have been able to prevent Lazarus' death, and then she says (NIV): "But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." Jesus tells her Lazarus will rise again, and Martha says that she knows there will be resurrection on the last day.
To that, Jesus says: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
"Yes, Lord," Martha replies, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If we live and believe in Jesus, we will never die. Jesus doesn't call us to someday; Jesus calls us to here and now. We have new life in Him now. We don't have to wait. Martha confesses Christ, and she has life. So too can we.

There are no criteria we have to meet. That idea struck me even more when I read Jesus calling Simon Peter, James, and John in Luke 5: 1-11. Jesus comes into these fishermen's lives and works a miracle. Simon Peter's response is this: "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
Jesus tells him, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." Then the three fishermen leave everything and follow Jesus.

Peter's first response in the face of Christ's miracle is to be ashamed of his sin. He feels unworthy of even being in the Lord's presence. Jesus says no -- don't be afraid. You will be a fisher of men. Jesus comes into our lives, calls us to Him, and says we are enough. All the fitness He requireth is to feel your need of Him. That's it. We don't need to be better to follow Jesus. We can come just as we are. God will cleanse us and help us grow.

Here's the third verse of "Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy:"

Come ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall,
If you tarry till you're better
You will never come at all.

I love the last two lines of that verse. If you tarry till you're better, you will never come at all. It is God that makes us better. We are cleansed in God. Psalm 130:7 says: "O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, with the Lord is plenteous redemption. And the Lord will redeem Israel from all iniquities" (UMH Psalter). We are redeemed in the Lord. God works with the people we are. Think about everyone God used in the Bible: Abraham and Sarah, who were old, and so were Zechariah and Elizabeth. Moses, who didn't like speaking in front of people. Saul, who persecuted those who followed the Way. Fishermen, like Peter, James, and John. God grew them all so that they did amazing work for the Lord. God is working just as much in our lives.

Here's the full hymn:

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy
Weak and wounded, sick and sore
Jesus ready stands to save you
Full of pity, love and power

[Refrain]
I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in his arms,
In the arms of my dear Savior
O, there are ten thousand charms.

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome,
God's free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance,
Every grace that brings you nigh

[Refrain]

Come ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall,
If you tarry till you're better
You will never come at all.

[Refrain]

Let not conscience make you linger
Nor of fitness fondly dream
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.