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.
