PLAY YOUR PART!

 

When Stephanie and I lived in Berne, Indiana, we attended the annual festival known as SWISS DAYS. It was always a lot of fun and good old fashioned rural Indiana. One of those Swiss Days events I participated was the annual community play. Yes, you heard that right. I played a "bit part" in the play OUR TOWN. I had fun doing it and don't worry, I don't feel the calling of the stage. (except to preach the word of God.) This thought came to me today as I was reading Acts 11. Two men stuck out in my mind, Barnabus, and Agabus. 

"When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabus to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabus was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord." (Acts 11:22-24, NLT)

"During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reigh of Claudius.)" (Acts 11:27-28, NLT)

Both of these men played "BIT PARTS" in the formation of the EARLY CHURCH. They had a significant impact through encouragement and spreading God's word. They aren't considered to be one of the GREATS, or a KEY PLAYER, THE STAR!

Psalm 14 says "...GOD IS WITH THOSE WHO OBEY HIM." there is no qualifier on that verse that says God is only with the mighty, the important, the power brokers, the shakers and movers. God has one qualification for service in his name. WILL YOU OBEY HIM? The task, regardless how big or how small, has nothing to do with your standing in the Kingdom. 

So many people seek NOTORIETY, FAME, GREATNESS. I have to admit I have been drawn into that same kind of thinking in the past. I not had the desire to "make a name for myself" for many, many years. I am much more content today than I ever have been in my 65 years of life. That does not mean my competitive edge is gone. I still do not like to lose. My winning and losing are defined differently for me today. A WIN is always seeing SALVATION come to those who don't know Jesus. Another WIN is when people grow and mature in their faith and that can be seen by them GOING OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD to share the GOSPEL. I just hope I can continue to play a BIT PART in the life to see those kinds of victory. If God wants me to be an encourager, so be it. If God wants me to be a prophet, so be it. If God wants me to pray, so be it. If God wants me to correct, rebuke, love, support, or share the truth in love, so be it. I AM YOURS LORD!

Heavenly Father, I praise you for where you have placed me. The people at SMDCOG are special to me. This flock is a gift straight from you and I am humbled to be a small part of their lives. Lord, please continue to guide us in the path to reach our goals to bring people back to you. I want nothing more than you to increase and me to decrease. Amen!

My goal this week is to play a small part in promoting the GREATNESS GOD and not mine.