THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 1, NUMBER 28, AUGUST 12, 2001

JUST A NORMAL PERSON

Every now and again I find myself feeling inadequate to accomplish some task for the Lord that I have the opportunity to do. Have you ever felt that way? Perhaps the chance to talk to someone at work about the Lord presented itself, and yet you just felt ill-equipped to do it. Maybe you have hesitated to go door-to-door with the congregation because of the possibility of getting into a discussion with someone. Maybe somebody needed spiritually sound advice about a problem they were having and you just didn't feel qualified to give it.

We have all felt the feeling of inadequacy at one time or another. We have all felt like we are nobody special, just a normal person working hard trying to get by. There are so many others better qualified, better equipped, better educated, more polished and professional who can do the work of the Lord much better than I. I would like to look at just a few normal people, "blue collar" we might call them, just working hard trying to get by that God used in a great way.

Somewhere around 760 to 750 B.C., in the wild country west of the Dead Sea, in a wide stretch of open land known as "The Wilderness of Judea", there was a herdsman. He even referred to himself as being "among the herdsmen of Tekoa". His name was Amos. In Amos 7:14 & 15, he described himself in this manner, "I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, Go prophesy to My people Israel."

Just a normal person. He was not trained in any special schools for his task. When we read the book that bears his name, we just have to be impressed. Here was Amos, a native of Judea, sent to prophecy to the northern kingdom, Israel. He was certainly not fancy. His vocabulary, the figures of speech that he used, his illustrations, all spoke of the country life that he had led. He was exceedingly blunt and it is clear that he had not learned the "fine art" of going all around a subject without ever getting right to the point. But God used him, just like He can use you and me. There is no such thing as an inadequately equipped person if that person is with the Lord, believing and obeying the truth.

Let's look at a very important list of people that we find in the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 10:2 - 4. There we read, "Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-gatherer; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him." To this list we should add Matthias, who was chosen to replace Judas, and Paul.

What were these men? Were they highly educated? Only Paul was what could be called a scholar. Were they wealthy? Maybe Matthew had money, having been a publican, but there is no indication that any of them were men of means. Were any of them politically influential? Simon was a zealot, a nationalist; but that background certainly does not seen conducive to being an apostle of the Lord.

So, what were these men? They were normal people like you and me. They had jobs and families. They held to many of the popular misconceptions of their times. They were influenced by the society that they lived in. They made mistakes and sometimes just did not understand. At times they struggled keeping things in the proper perspective, the Lord often had to deal with their priorities. In other words, THEY WERE NORMAL PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.

However, the Lord looked at the hearts of these normal people and saw anything but inadequacy. Yes, they were not the best educated, they were sometimes backward and superstitious, and often ambitious. But you know what they had? They believed in Jesus. They believed in Him so completely and they committed themselves to Him so totally that they would learn any lesson and endure any hardship for Him. These "normal people", who believed in Jesus so completely, were truly powerful men. They were powerful in their humble simplicity and transformed by their tenacious faith and love for the Lord.

You and I can be the same way. I'll gladly be as "normal" as the herdsman, Amos. I'll gladly be as "normal" as the fisherman, Peter; or the tax-collector, Matthew. With Jesus we are all anything but "normal". "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13). Does that sound "normal" to you?

Greg Litmer

WHERE AIN'T GOD?

He was just a little lad, and on the week's first day,
Was wandering home from Bible class, and dawdling
On his way.
Scuffing his shoes into the grass; he found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milk-weed, and blew out all the "filler".
A bird's nest in a tree o'erhead, so wisely placed so high.
Was just another wonder, that caught his eager eye.
A neighbor watched his zig-zag course, and hailed him
From the lawn;
Asked him where he had been that day, and what was going on.
"Oh, I've been to Sunday School" (He carefully turned
the sod, and found a snail beneath it)
"I've learned a lot about God". "M'm a very fine way", the neighbor said, "for a boy to spend his time."
"If you'll tell me where God is, I'll give you a brand new
dime."
Quick as a flash his answer came: nor were his accents
Faint"
"I'll give you a dollar, Mister, if you'll tell me
where God ain't."

Via The Overland Church Bulletin