SCRIPTURE: Luke 2:8-14
When Jesus comes again, He will come with angels, and every eye will see Him (Matthew 25:31, Revelation 1:7).
For His first coming, the angels appear too, but not everyone gets to see Him.
Yet the shepherds do… how curious that they get to see Jesus and the angels.
This good news announced only to the shepherds is “good news of great joy … for all people.”
Then why not tell everyone, why instead rely on common or unusual witnesses?
Apparently before His final return, God prefers to use common, ordinary people to spread the word.
Like the common, ordinary disciples, or the common, ordinary women that spread the word of His resurrection.
Or the common, ordinary people throughout history that have continued to spread the word.
God chooses common, ordinary people to make a point: we are not the reason Jesus’ message is powerful.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when God chose you. Not many of you were considered wise by human standards. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you belonged to important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important. So no one can brag to God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
You and I are still among the common, ordinary people that God wants to use to point people to Jesus.
And it is because of God’s power, and not ours, that the message about Jesus continues to spread:
When I came to you, I was weak and afraid and trembling all over. I didn’t preach my message with clever and compelling words. As I preached, the Holy Spirit showed his power. That was so you would believe not because of human wisdom but because of God’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:3-4)
With the angels, we too can join in and praise God, that He uses us to spread the good news of great joy!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, I am not JUST a common, ordinary person, I am ALSO a common, ordinary person, like everyone else. Thank You for reminding me that my greatness is not in me, but in You, and in Jesus!
Ditto, MUB 🙂
Come on, Ordinary Witnesses
When I first glanced at the title of the blog for today, this is what I saw, and I imagined that Norm was going to urge us to become a witness. Come on! You can do it! Be a witness. Like the shepherds who were told of a baby, a messiah, we too know of Jesus, the messiah. We can tell others what we know. We can tell what Jesus has done for us. Sometimes we think we need to be experts in Bible theology before we tell others about how we feel about God. I think we just need to be real. Come on! Be an Ordinary Witness.
I pray that I can be an ordinary witness for my life experience. I pray that God will use me to tell others about Him.
Observations/Application
God’s messenger appeared to the shepherds, the lowly people. Unwanted people. Despised people. Smelly people. His greatness is for all people and the Good News is for all people. And He uses ALL people to proclaim that Good News. It is He who empowers. Just look at the disciples – where they came from and what they did.
Just look at Christ’s ministry and His audience – He came to the lowest people.
The angels proclaimed glory in song. They praised Him.
I too must praise Him in song, in words and in action.
It is He who empowers.
It is He who speaks.
It is He who uses people to proclaim the Good News.
All are a possibility because it is God at work – no matter what kind of vessel we/I think we/I am.
Prayer
All too often Lord I think I am not worthy or capable of doing what You want me to do. Yet as You have shown time and time again, You empower and give Your people strength they need for ministry – just as the shepherds did. Revive me again Lord and use me as You desire.
God gives His people strength;
If we believe in His way
He’s swift to repay
All those who bare the burden of the day;
God gives His people strength.
God gives His people love;
If we but open wide our heart
He’s sure to do His part
He’s always the first to make a start;
God gives His people love.
God gives His people peace;
When sorrow fills us to brim
And courage grows dim
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.