Just Ordinary People

          How did Naaman happen to be in Samaria? How did Moses get so lucky to be found by the princess and still cared for by his birth mother? How did Joseph get to the level of prominence in the Pharaoh’s court?

          They all came to where they were because of ordinary people, people like you’d meet on the streets in Walnut, people like you’d meet at McDonald’s or Robert’s Bakery, just ordinary people. And yet, because of their actions these people’s lives were transformed.

          If it hadn’t been for Naaman’s wife’s slave girl he’d never have heard about a prophet in Samaria let alone traveled to the Jordan to be washed and cleansed of his skin condition.

          If Moses’ sister, Miriam, hadn’t hidden herself in the reeds by the river watching to see where the basket with the baby Moses landed he would never have learned about his heritage at his own mother’s knee.

          What about the people of Sychar in Samaria? They would’ve never come to know Jesus if the Samaritan woman hadn’t went to Jacob’s well at noon. If she hadn’t stopped to talk…and listen to Jesus they would’ve never come to the well themselves. They wouldn’t have invited him to stay for 2 days nor would any have had the opportunity to believe that Jesus was truly the savior of the world.

          Think how different Jesus’ ministry would’ve been without the help he and his disciples received from the women who followed Jesus, women like Mary Magdalene, Susanna, Joanna, and others who provided for them out of the resources they had.

          Just ordinary people, because of them the world was changed. Because of them others learned about God and his love. Because of ordinary people the world has learned about Jesus and the kingdom of God right here.

          We’re all here, more than likely, because of ordinary people. We’re here because someone cared enough, loved enough, to take the time to let you know that there is a God and he loved the world so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to save it.

          Because of ordinary people we know God’s Spirit is within us lighting the fire in our bellies. Ordinary people are the reason this church is here today. Ordinary people who knew that people still needed a place to worship…and learn about God.

          And so it continues that the Word goes out today through ordinary people, maybe people like you and me. Just think, someone may not ever know about God and his Son, Jesus if you don’t tell them.

          Friends, even if you feel like you don’t have the gift or the skill to talk about your faith or your hope I ask you to put your trust in God to provide the courage, the desire, …and the right words at the right time.

          Someone’s life will be changed because you share your story of God’s love with them. Trust and have faith that God is still at work in our world today.

          Thanks be to God for his love and grace given to ordinary people. Amen.