The Ordinary Men and Women
by David Brenneman
"Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh ... tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, He will bring
us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey."" NUMBERS 14.6-8
On May 3, 1953, an airliner bound for London from Singapore crashed 22 miles northwest of Kolkata, India, with no survivors. Fred Mitchell, who had become the
of China Inland Mission ten years before, was traveling on that aircraft In his director biography, Fred was described as "an ordinary man from a village home with working-class parents, who spent the greater part of his life as a chemist in the provinces-and who
walked with God."
Until Caleb the son of Jephunneh became a spy, appointed by Moses to scope out the land that God had promised to give His people, there was nothing to indicate that he was paricularly significant or distinguished, either. But it was almost certainly in those ordinary experiences, along the humdrum track of his life, that God forged and developed the character that is revealed in Numbers 14.
Crisis tends to reveal character. When the Israelite spies came back to report on their discoveries in Canaan, they announced that the cities were fortified, and that "we are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we...we seemed to ourselves like
grasshoppers" (Numbers 13:31, 33). And the People responded by accusing God of bringing them to a land where they would be killed (14:3).
Caleb's commitment to God stands out. He was prepared to resist the tide of popular opinion, When the spies recommended not entering the promised land, he stood against them, When everybody was rebelling against God, he would not join them. He, along with his faithful friend Joshua, were the only men to advise courageous obedience to God.
Caleb was certain of what could be accomplished by God's power. He did not deny the truth of what the other spies had to say; he simply looked at it from a different perspective. He was confident not in his ability nor in the ability of the Israelites but in the power of God and the trustworthiness of His character. He was a man of faith in the midst of fear. He knew that a
grasshopper helped by God is a grasshopper that can do great things.
Although we may feel that our lives are simply routine, we can always seek God in the ordinary. In the most mundane moments, He will forge our character so that we too can become people of courage in all circumstances. God is not looking for giants through whom
to achieve achieve His His plans. He is looking for ordinary people who are prepared to trust Him, step
in faith and courageously obey. There is nothing to stop you being that person today.
-Truth for Life Devotional, Allistair Begg.
Years ago Pastor John MacArthur wrote a couple books, "12 Ordinary Men" and later "12 Ordinary Women". This devotional takes us to a more personal aspect...us the Ordinary People.
Yes, us Ordinary People. We are to bloom where God's planted us. Thrive where He's established us.
Keeping in mind the words of Jesus.
"“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you." John 15:1-14.
"But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired." 1 Corinthians 12:18.
"For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:4-8.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it." 1 Corinthians 12:4-27.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
That last one is probably one of the most potent in providing some motivation on top of living a quiet life unhindered before the Lord Jesus Christ. We are exhorted to do that in this world that clamors for attention at every turn. The most likes, thumbs up, subscribers, all the metrics for supposed success in a social media world...isn't the life in Christ that the Bible describes.
"Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need." 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.
Our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:3.
Our lives are to be lived in full appreciation for all He's done for us in saving us in His love for which He loved us in going through the crucifixion in our place.
Our lives in Christ do indeed have meaning...just not what the world teaches us that it means.
Our lives have purpose...just not for the purposes the world says that it is.
There's a plan for us set by our Father in Heaven from long before we were born. Long before we were even considered to be coming into the world.
You are special and precious in the sight of God in Christ Jesus. You have a specific, special, unique, life for you to live in your physical being until either you are called home to be with the Lord or the Rapture of the Church. It isn't anything that the world will get or understand because it's not of this world.
What is ordinary in this world or has the appearance of umimportance in the world concerning people isn't that in the sight of God. People are the treasure of Heaven. As Daniel was described so are we. We are highly esteemed in Heaven.
You may not think that your contributions to the Kingdom of God amount to anything but oh do they. Ruth did not know at all the hugely significant role her life would make in the lineage of the coming King of Israel...King David. Daniel would never know how many trillions of people would read his book and seek out more of the future plans of God. Job would never know how many people would find their lives not as unique as they thought when they too didn't understand why they go through what they did.
The list of the ordinary person is throughout the Bible. We are in a race, as the Apostle Paul wrote. We are in it with Jesus. We are not alone no matter how we feel in any given moment. We have a hope that the world doesn't even recognize that it needs.
Every single life in Christ has been born exactly when and where they were for God's glory and revelation to a lost world around them.
We are His Church with a divinely appointed plan and purpose to pursue in Christ.
There's nothing more satisfying than fulfilling our calling in Christ.
You are not insignificant.
You are not unimportant.
You are a child of God in Christ Jesus.
You are the beloved of God.
You are more than you think you are in Christ.
Your thoughts and dreams may not be what you think that they ought to be...and that's ok. Time is running short for this fallen world. Once the Church of Jesus Christ is complete our work on Earth will be done. Your seemingly unimportant life is anything but in the eyes of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Do your best, be your best in Christ. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself.
Ordinary in the eyes of the world is extraordinary in the eyes of God.
Read these lyrics to Tenth Avenue North's song "You Are More" (C) 2010, and know just how cherished you are in Jesus.
There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide
She says, how did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love
But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight
She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try
But don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.
You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.
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