Ordinary People...

“Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:11-13

Have you ever been given the opportunity to ask another adult “who is the God that you worship?”  Answers vary from person to person and many, when really pushed will say that ‘God is just out there’ and really God doesn’t mean that much to them.  How do you reply to them?  What about Jesus Christ?  If you really want to know who God is or what He is like take a close look at His Son.  If you want to hear God’s voice listen to His Son through the Holy Gospel.  Two of the three men in this photo are feeding program directors and the third is the principal at this Lutherienne school in PAP.  They, like Peter and John and you and me and the children at this school who are getting ready to head home are just ‘ordinary’ people…who happen to trust, love and know Jesus Christ.  We can’t begin to understand how many people out along our journey are seeking the reason for the Hope that we have.  We can’t understand but our Sovereign Lord knows as He is using us just as we are and where we are today.  We’ve been prepared to go and do His work; just ordinary people doing His work.  I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus’ that were written by Frances R. Havergal in 1874.

“I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, trusting only Thee; trusting Thee for full salvation, great and free.  I am trusting Thee for pardon; at Thy feet I bow, for Thy grace and tender mercy; trusting now.  I am trusting Thee for cleansing in the crimson flood; trusting Thee to make me holy by Thy blood.  I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead, ev'ry day and hour supplying all my need.  I am trusting Thee for power; Thine can never fail.  Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me must prevail.  I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; never let me fall.  I am trusting Thee forever and for all.”

Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown.  Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

May God be with you…Jay