“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” [1]
Lynda and I enjoy watching many of the concerts sponsored by PBS, especially those performances that gather the musical stars from the 50s or from the 60s. Well, that shouldn’t be too surprising since that is the era of our youth. During halcyon days of yore we listened to the music these warblers produced. Many of the singers from a particular era will be gathered on stage for a great performance as each of these stars or the groups of stars sing the song or songs that made them stars.
The musicians are older, heavier, they don’t move as gracefully as they once did. The hair is thinner. Their voices don’t have quite the range we remember. Reaching for the high notes, the sound they produce sometimes grates on our ears. But they were stars; and for a moment we are transported back to a time when we were younger, thinner, and able to move gracefully rather than being bent over and shuffling. What is important for these shows is that those appearing on stage are still stars in our eyes!
We also have our stars in the church world, don’t we? We Christians are prepared to travel quite a distance to hear some notable speaker. If the individual happens to be a healer, we can be assured she or he will draw a crowd. If he pastors a megachurch, he is certifiably worth hearing, so we’ll travel a long distance just so we can listen to what he has to say. We have religious stars, and they feast on the adulation of their audiences.
Notice the number of views that a well-known preacher receives even when delivering what admittedly can be a rather pedestrian sermon. He throws together a variety of platitudes, religious sayings designed to make us feel good about our choices or intended to make us feel superior to those who disagree with us, and we are prepared to listen to them. However, should a godly man present a challenging message that demands that we grapple with the righteous demands of the Risen Saviour, few among the saints seem interested in hearing what that man has to say. He’s not a star!
More surprising still is that fact that even in the congregations to which we belong, we have stars. Some will be voted in as deacons or as church officers at every election. Our stars always receive our full attention when they speak, whereas lesser saints are shushed or ignored. The stars of our congregations are prominent, and they always receive our full attention. If they move a motion at a congregational meeting, we know it will be accepted. If they oppose a position, it won’t be accepted by the assembly. Whether we agree with the assessment or not, these individuals are stars, after all.
Paul was not like us when it came to the issue of church stars; he was focused on the whole rather than the parts. It is not as though he was unaware of the individuals, but he seems always to have worked to encourage all Christians to work in harmony while building the Body. Paul wanted each Christian to realise the necessity of working together in unity for one great end—glorifying the Saviour through building up one another. As an example of what I’m saying, consider the manner in which he closed his Letter to the saints in Rome. Notice the names he recites.
How many of them have you read about elsewhere in Scripture? Prisca and Aquila, perhaps, but what about Epaenetus? Epaenetus was the first convert in Asia. It must have required some courage to be the first to break with the tradition of his village in order to embrace the Christ as Master over life! Andronicus and Junia? These saints were kinsmen of the Apostle, and they had spent time with him in prison. Or Ampliatus? Urbanus? Stachys? Rufus? Yeah, these are all rather foreign sounding names of people we’ve never heard of. And yet, the Apostle knew each of them; and he was prepared to remind others of just how important these individuals were to the church. I don’t suppose anyone would rate any of those whom Paul named as stars, and yet he was not in the least hesitant in identifying with them. They didn’t have to be stars to be in Paul’s show.
MAKING THE CHURCH GREAT — What does it require for a church to be great? If we appeal to the supposition of many, a church that has a vast physical plant must be a great church. However, many older churches have a vast plant which is in disrepair because the large numbers of worshippers that once attended services are no longer present. Lynda and I enjoy watching many of the British shows presented on a variety of platforms here in North America. Among the shows we regularly enjoy watching are the shows “Father Brown” and “Born and Bred.” The priests on these two shows are represented as shamelessly, and quite regularly, begging for money to repair the roof of the church building, or to replace windows, or to repair the organ. And they are begging people that are not in the least interested in regular attendance at their religious exercises!
If a vast physical plant is no guarantee that a church is “great,” then surely we would imagine that it must be that a great church is composed of wealthy parishioners. Tragically, many old line churches have large endowments, money that has been willed by former members to the congregation or to the denomination. These saints had laboured to build the church and they loved the Lord. They sought to further the cause of Christ by remembering the congregation or the denomination with a generous bequest. However, because the leadership of the church began to focus on preserving what they had rather than investing in advancing the work of the Kingdom, the congregation, or the denomination, has become a mere husk today—a husk with no kernel remaining. Perhaps the congregation is situated in a large building, but the congregation has dwindled or though it is still present, it has lost whatever vibrancy it once knew.
Remember the warning issued to the Church of the Laodiceans. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches’” [REVELATION 3:15-22].
I briefly pastored such a congregation. The congregation had once been large and vibrant, but that day lay in the distant past. The old pastor had been true to the Word of God, unhesitant in proclaiming the whole counsel of God. However, some eager deacons who believed they were commissioned to run the church had compelled him to retire because he was growing old. They wanted a more upbeat service that would attract youth, because someone had said that youth were needed to ensure the future. There was some truth in their supposition, but attempting to bring youth by jettisoning truth is a recipe for disaster. If there is no foundation on which to build, there will be no substance to what is built. The deacons would have been wise to consult the Psalmist, who wrote,
“If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
[PSALM 11:3]
As result of the actions of these progressive deacons, the membership had dwindled, and over two-thirds of those claiming membership never attended services. Many of them, perhaps even most of them, had no interest in being part of that assembly. Thus, at the time I went to that assembly, there were but a handful of people present. As I began a vigorous ministry of declaring the Word, the church began to grow rapidly. The congregation began to enjoy many first-generation Canadians in the services both morning and evening. Their presence, however, was an offense to the old-line members. These people had skin tones that didn’t match the pasty white skin of the old guard. English was not the first language of many of those coming to the services.
Shortly, a man who gave himself the exalted title “chairman of the church,” stood in a service and declared, “No one can be saved without my saying they are saved!” He resented all the new people coming into the assembly. A small cabal of older members were losing control, and they felt they must act swiftly or they might not have power. That congregation has long since passed off the scene.
The congregation imagined that they could all live up the valley and drive in to services on occasion. So long as they had money, these few, the frozen chosen, could claim there was a church in that location. The memory of what once occurred in that place was dying out even then, and the last memory would die with those well-to-do parishioners who sat in front of their televisions and moaned about how hard it was today, not at all like it used to be. They had a reputation, and not much else.
If a large physical plant or great wealth does not make a church great, perhaps an entertaining worship team, or a talented speaker qualifies a church as great. History is replete with churches built around entertainment or notoriety. History is equally replete with accounts of many of those same assemblies built around a man or around a programme prospering for a brief while and then dying out. It is evident that personalities and programmes do not make a church great. We must never imagine that a crowd is a church. A mob is no more a church than a little red wagon is an SUV.
A church is great when it is built on the foundation of Christ the Lord. Since the Saviour is eternal, then that congregation that is founded on Him will withstand the storms of life and will continue despite the assaults of the wicked one. The Master promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” [MATTHEW 16:18b].
Recall the Apostle’s admonition concerning the work he performed in Corinth. “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” [1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-15].
Looking more particularly at the work of building a congregation, Paul taught us in the Ephesian Letter, “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” [EPHESIANS 2:19-22].
Here, then, is the truth that must be recognised—a church is great when the members are great; and the members of a great congregation are united by and in the Spirit of the Lord to ensure that they are being built into a dwelling place for God. This means, quite simply, that those united by the Spirit look to the teaching of the Apostles and Prophets for guidance and direction. They are careful to ensure that what they permit to be taught honours Christ Jesus, always seeking His mind as they serve Him. Their primary concern is His honour. They are zealous for the truth, carefully examining what is taught to avoid falling into error or even giving the appearance that they are prepared to accept errant teaching or practise.
I am privileged to pastor such a congregation. However, I am growing old. I know that if the Lord tarries, I must one day lay aside this flesh. My strength is ebbing and the days allotted to me are flowing quickly to a close. There shall come a day when another stands before you to hold forth the Word of the Lord. Whether the church continues as great in the sight of the Lord, or whether the church becomes just another assembly that makes no impact on the world, lies in the hand of the congregation. If the people unite their hearts and work in harmony with the Spirit of God, the congregation will continue as a great church. If the people slide into mere formality, then we shall be just another of the train of wrecked congregations that were once great.
A church is not defined by the building in which people meet, nor is a church defined by the reputation of how comfortable the world is with their presence among the residents of this dying world. A church is the people whom the Spirit of Christ has gathered to invest their lives in one another, to advance the Kingdom of Heaven, and to worship the King of kings. A church that functions according to God’s will make worldlings uncomfortable because of the ministry His united people provide. Nevertheless, that same world will be hesitant to touch God’s anointed ones. For the lost to reach out their hand to touch God’s anointed is to thrust the hand into fire.
Whether God immediately strikes down the one harming His child, or whether God delays taking His vengeance, that one who seeks to harm God’s people loses a part of his or her soul. The vitality they may have once possessed is diminished and they become progressively brutish. One need but look at those benighted Muslims souls who tormented God’s people in Iraq and in Iran in recent years. Their character moved steadily toward the revelation that they were mere brutes, not unlike the Nazi thugs who sought to extirpate the Jews of Europe.
One need but consider the dark progression of humanity that determines they can live without acknowledging the Living God as revealed in the opening chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Christians of Rome. I know you have heard these words so frequently that it is almost easy to ignore them. However, consider that they speak of people moving inexorably toward becoming beastly.
“Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” [ROMANS 1:28-32].
God surrenders to their own devices those devilish souls who refuse to honour Him, choosing instead to pursue their own darkened ends. Here’s the thing we must always remember—regardless of how evil the world is, we must do right.
HEROES IN THE SHADOWS — We love the idea of having heroes; and we all have heroes. Usually, our heroes are people who are notable because of some accomplishment when our hero prevailed against what seemed impossible odds. If we are speaking of a military hero, a police officer who saved an individual from being killed by a deranged person, or a frontline worker that rescued a child from a burning building, we recognise that they defied normal sensibilities and stood their ground in the face of danger to ensure that another person lived—they risked their life for the welfare of another.
Tragically, many people in this day have adopted as heroes actors and actresses who appear on the silver screen, or someone who dances provocatively and warbles on a stage. The mere fact that the individual is adulated because she or he entertains elevates them to hero status in our mind. I say this is tragic primarily because the influence of such people is more likely to sway the opinions of the fans away from worship of the Living God than it is to establish them in acting courageously or righteously. Emulating the antics of contemporary musicians or actors seldom leads to building godly character.
I have deep reservations concerning the so-called wisdom that is demonstrated by a musician who exposes her ignorance concerning political matters. Just because someone is able to warble a song in a pleasant manner does not qualify her to speak on political matters. A famed basketball player who spouts off nonsense each time there is a conflict between his favoured racial community and the law does nothing but demonstrate that he is a fool unworthy of serious attention. Clearly, the ability to dribble a ball or drop a three-pointer with a degree of regularity does not qualify an individual to provide direction in the complex issues of race and justice.
Nevertheless, we seem to imagine that because an individual’s name is recognisable or because his or her face peers out at us from the pages of some popular entertainment sites, they must be worthy of receiving our full attention and they must be worthy of our emulation. In addition to the vapid pronouncements from glitterati of this dying world, the statements of eminent church leaders too often reveal someone with little understanding of the situation but an ill-advised willingness to wade into the fray.
Just as we must avoid giving credence to musicians and actors who imagine that what they say merits our attention, so we must be cautious about every luminary within the church world who thinks he has a divine voice to dictate to the world. You may remember how a President of the United States once thought that because he was a “born again Christian” he had special qualifications to lead the nation. Things didn’t work out all that well for the nation under the leadership (or the failure to lead) of that man. Increasingly, it appears that many church leaders are driven to make pronouncements on almost every subject except the Word of God!
A church does not consist of one person, or even of one group. A church is composed of many people, the majority of whom are seldom seen publicly. Unlike the artificial situation that has been imposed on us during the pandemic disorder, each member of the congregation of the Lord is essential. There is no division into essential and non-essential members. There are no people that are more important than others.
Some of you are old enough to remember a group known as The Fifth Dimension. Two members of that group, Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo were married in 1969. This couple recorded several songs as a duet that advanced on the charts, one of which was entitled “You Don’t Have to be a Star, Baby, to be in My Show.” Well, you don’t have to be a star to be in this show. I confess that I am more impressed by people who love the Saviour and labour in the shadows because of their desire to serve Him than I am with people who have a big name. Behind the scenes in our church each week are people that seldom get any notice. Yet, these hard-working, diligent individuals labour quietly to ensure that the message of Christ reaches far beyond the walls of this building. These individuals are heroes before the Lord. Motivated by His Spirit they labour for His glory.
You know that Frank produces our television and YouTube shows. Though unable to be physically present, he is always smiling and dedicated to excellence as he ensures that the messages are ready without fail for delivery and for posting. Armed with laughter, though seriously intent on getting the message out on time, Kurt produces our radio ministries. You never see these men on our broadcasts. Nahum and Josiah faithfully and quietly work in the media room switching cameras and setting up the recording. You will see their names on the credits at the end of a program, but few people continue watching a broadcast to the end in order to read the credits of a show. Nevertheless, there would be no media ministry without these faithful individuals.
The services of a church are always dependent on people who will almost never be named on a program. It is a tragic truth that we don’t always recognise those who ensure the service happens. The musicians, the song leader and the pianist, are seldom given the credit they deserve. And yet, without them, the services would lack vitality. Faithful men and women clean the building, clean the bathrooms, empty the trash, greet people at the door and ensure that visitors know where to go. We don’t see their names included in the bulletin, but can you imagine what coming to the House of God might be like if they didn’t do the work they do? Our treasurer and those who assist him in his duties seldom receive notice, though they care for the finances of the congregation with diligence and efficiently. I can testify that when there is not such efficiency and diligence in caring for the financial affairs of a church, extreme difficulties inevitably result.
Our deacons labour quietly and almost always in the background to ensure that our people receive the ministries that glorify the Lord and to ensure that all the services honour Him. We don’t give much thought to them, but they are the ones that serve us to build us in the Faith, to comfort us and to encourage us. All these workers serve the Lord, and they do so without thought of receiving recognition or praise from others, though they deserve the commendation of God’s people. They are workers in the shadows, and they serve for the glory of the Living God.
Here is a question for you? What was the name of the musicians who conducted worship during the days of David, King of Israel? You know the name of the king, but can you name any of the men who led the singing of the Psalms? We know there was a choirmaster who ensured that the appropriate psalm was accompanied by stringed instruments of by flutes as the psalm was sung. What was that name of any of those choirmasters? You see, my point is that we remember those who are visible, but without those labouring in the shadows there would be no worship as we expect.
In this context, what role did Heman the son of Joel, or Asaph the son of Berechiah, or Ethan the son of Kushaiah play in the conduct of worship during the days of David the King? Have you heard of “Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah,” and are you able to speak of their role in the worship in the Temple? These men led with lyres according to the Sheminith. Chenaniah directed the music, because he understood it. Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer were the men who blew trumpets before the ark of God. You can read about these men in the Chronicles of Israel [see 1 CHRONICLES 15:16-24]. These men were chosen to ensure that the people worshipped according to the will of the Lord.
What is important is that each of those individuals named was essential and each was approved by God for the task they performed. Their labour was for the benefit of all the worshippers. They received no particular notice since the purpose of the worship was for the worshippers to meet the Lord. David was noted because of his role as king over the nation, and not particularly because of his role in worship. It was after he had passed off the scene that people began to take note of the Psalms he had written. A familiar psalm would be sung, and those who had known what it was to worship during the days of the king would recognise the psalm. Perhaps they would say, “Oh, David wrote that psalm,” but few would pause to think that way because at the moment the psalm was being sung, the worshippers were focused on meeting the Living God! It is the same in our worship to this day. We come together to worship and to meet the Lord!
While worshipping, we don’t pause to think about those dedicated servants of God who vacuumed the floors or cleaned the toilets. We seldom think about the gifted musician who provides accompaniment or those committed servants who are leading us as we sing the hymns because we likely are far more focused on what we are singing. How often do you read the bulletin and think of what a great job someone has done in preparing that material? You read what is printed and perhaps you give some passing thought to what has been printed. Yet, many of us would miss out on events without that printed notice, or we would fumble the order of service because we didn’t hear the announcement of the next item in the progress of the service. All these aspects of the service and of the preparation of the building are designed for our benefit and for God’s glory. There are fellow worshippers, women and men who are committed to ensuring that the Lord is honoured and that His people are enabled to worship without confusion.
I realise that I’ve become personal, speaking as I have of those who labour among us, and I obviously include myself; however, we should give recognition of those who give of their time. They seek to honour the Lord through serving the people of God, and in thus serving God’s people they are serving the Lord. When we adopt the attitude of serving, we reflect the attitude demonstrated by our Master. Do you remember how Jesus has taught us, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” [MARK 10:45].
When the Master had humbled Himself and washed the feet of His disciples, He taught them, and thus He has taught us, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” [JOHN 13:13-17].
Observing those who jockeyed by position, Jesus taught His disciples, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” [MATTHEW 23:2-12]. Elsewhere, we hear Jesus as He is compelled to rebuke His disciples. These men, despite having three years in the School of Christ the Lord, were themselves vying to be greatest among themselves. Doctor Luke tells the story when he writes, “A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves’” [LUKE 22:24-27].
I suppose it is natural that any of us should want to be recognised as a person of worth; we want to be praised for our efforts and for our contribution to the welfare of the assembly. However, we must remember that among the faithful we reveal our greatness through humility and through a willingness to serve. We need to hear the Apostle when he teaches, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others” [PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4]. It is not that we do nothing for ourselves, for we are to look to our own interests, but we are also to elevate the interests of others to a place that is at least as great as our own interests!
This concept of the servant attitude expected of followers of the Risen Saviour is emphasised as the Apostle writes of how we are to emulate the Master in this respect, “You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” [2 CORINTHIANS 8:9].
If I could have but one plea for our assembly, it would be that each of us would aspire to be a servant of Christ. I am realistic enough to know that there will always be some who want to be great in the sight of people. However, I am hopeful enough that the Spirit of God working in our midst will ensure that outsiders will be compelled to confess of this congregation, “See how they love one another.” And they will make precisely that confession if they see us with a spirit of service driving us to serve one another in a spirit of love.
A CALL TO GREATNESS — Paul admonished the Christians in Corinth to aspire to be “outstanding in the work of the Lord” [see 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 NET BIBLE]. Wouldn’t you like to be known as “outstanding in the work of the Lord?” You might well ask what would be required for you to be great in the sight of the Lord? It should be obvious that I’m not speaking about your reputation—you know very well that reputation is what people think you are, character is what you are. Rather, I’m speaking about you. What would be required for you to be great in the sight of the Lord? And I do hope that each of you to whom I am speaking in this message aspire to be great in the sight of the Lord.
Obviously, to be great in the sight of the Lord would mean that God takes note of and commends what you are doing. Your actions, and the attitude with which you perform those actions, are what make you great in the sight of the Lord. I fear that many among the clergy class consider themselves above doing hard work. I still recall an incident early in my ministry that emphasised this tragic truth. A pastor had contacted me to request that I assist in training his church with a view to initiating an outreach ministry. I had committed myself to be with his congregation on one weeknight for each of several weeks, training those who were willing to participate.
The final evening arrived before the programme would be set in place. The people had gathered in the auditorium. Visitation cards had been prepared and assignments for regions in which teams would visit were organised. I arrived and there was a surprisingly eager group of Christians willing to visit in the homes of neighbours and friends. We had prayer and began the process of handling out assignments. It was at that point that the Pastor told me, “Oh, no! Don’t give me any cards! I don’t do that. I have too much else to do. I can’t be expected to visit in homes.”
Thinking that he must surely be suffering an attack of timidity, I took this brother pastor aside to inquire what the problem might be. He was adamant, even growing somewhat agitated at the thought that I might actually think that he would deign visit in the homes of people and actually speak with them concerning faith in the Son of God. One thing he said astonished me. He did not believe that God called him to tell others how to be saved. He did not believe that the commands of Christ applied to him!
I reminded him that the Risen Lord commanded Christians, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” [MATTHEW 28:19-20 NET BIBLE]. He was unpersuaded even by this command given by the Master.
I reminded him of the example that Jesus Himself has given those who would follow Him. When Jesus had finished the humble task of kneeling to wash the feet of those followers, the Master had urged the disciples to adopt the attitude of servants. Jesus said that we are blessed if we serve one another. My appeal to Scripture was to no avail. That pastor did not last much longer at that particular congregation. He had no desire to be great in the sight of the Lord.
I remind each Christian that Jesus has taught those who would follow Him, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” [MATTHEW 20:25-28].
In the challenging pamphlet entitled, “The Practice of the Presence of God,” Brother Lawrence wrote that we ought, once and for all, heartily put our whole trust in God, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us. We ought not grow weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. We should not wonder if, in the beginning, we often failed in our endeavors, but that at last we should gain a habit which will naturally produce its acts in us without our care and to our exceeding great delight. [2] His perspective provides a worthy challenge for each of us who would follow the Master, honouring Him.
I encourage each of you who are members of this congregation to keep on doing what you have done for the cause of Christ. I plead with any who have perhaps refrained from serving Him through serving others because you imagine that such service may be somehow beneath you, consider the model that Jesus has provided and begin to do what He has commanded. Serve one another in love, aspiring to make this assembly great in the sight of the Lord.
To any who are outside this Holy Faith, I call on you to look to the Risen Son of God for salvation. He has promised to receive all who come to Him in faith, and that includes you. The Lord calls you, pleading,
“Turn to Me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!”
[ISAIAH 45:22]
Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Brother Lawrence, “The Practice of the Presence of God,” Project Gutenberg, https://www.acatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/The-Practice-of-the-Presence-of-God.pdf, accessed 2 June 2021
