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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, January 18, 2004 Ordinary People |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, January 18, 2004, by Anne B. Crawford
Scripture Text:
Acts 4:1-37
These days, if you want to be heard, it helps to be a celebrity. It seems that
in our society we attribute wisdom or knowledge to our celebrities. At least I
get that impression from today’s media that seeks out celebrity opinions on
everything from politics to global warming.
In any case, it is certainly true that when you speak out publicly, people want
to know your credentials and background, in order to evaluate the credibility of what you have to say.
It was no different for the early church, except that those early Christians
were not part of the elite, knowledgeable class of their day. They were
considered “ordinary and uneducated” and yet they spoke and acted with authority
(provided by the Holy Spirit), proclaiming Jesus as Lord. The power of their
witness astonished the Sadducees who didn’t expect such wisdom and
persuasiveness from a bunch of fishermen and other marginal members of society.
Most of us will never be celebrities – we are ordinary people living ordinary
lives. No one is going to stick a microphone in our face and ask for our
opinion on anything. Still, ordinary as we are, we are also called, as were the
early Christians, to be witnesses for God’s saving love through Jesus. I don’t
think that you or I have to be famous or do something spectacular to witness for
Christ. Instead, we are ordinary people who, through the extraordinary love of
Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, can proclaim Jesus as Lord in our
everyday words and actions.
Ordinary people proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord and savior – that is powerful
stuff and reminds me of one of my favorite choir anthems - “Proclaim The Glory
of the Lord” (words and music by
Dwight Liles and
Niles Borop):
“Proclaim the glory of the Lord.
Let every tongue confess He reigns;
Lift up His name in praises forever.
Proclaim the glory of the Lord.
Make known His mighty deeds to all; take up the call,
Let every nation know:
He is our Messiah, our Savior and our King;
Let all our voices join as one
And fill the earth with singing.
Glory to our God,
His greatness we applaud.
Let every race on every shore,
Proclaim the glory of the Lord!”
Prayer: We are ordinary people, Lord. Thank you for working in us to turn our
ordinary lives into extraordinary witness. When we feel we are not smart or
clever or persuasive enough to witness, send your Holy Spirit to give us
strengthen and encourage. Help us to proclaim your Glory in all we say and do.
Amen
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