Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
In spite of the fact that we are sinful people, God wants us to become involved in His work.
Are we willing to use our talents in service to Him?
Jesus did not pick people from society’s elite when He chose his workers.
He chose a stammering Moses to lead His people out of bondage.
He chose an unhealthy Paul to be the first great missionary of the Church.
Jesus’ disciples were peasants, fishermen, and even a tax collector.
Paul wrote, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong…” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28).
The majority of God’s work was done and continues to be done by ordinary people.
Look at the group that is offering and exploring Vacation Bible School possibilities in Panama.
Look at the group that determined the best option for the Cross and Entrance project.
Look at the group that is leading our Enter His Courts Ministry Expansion Campaign.
Look at the group that hosted our campaign kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday.
Look at the group that is preparing for the 53rd Annual Pancake Day at Our Redeemer.
Look at the group that is preparing for the mission trip to Eswatini this summer.
Look at the group that is signing up for UKANDU in Chicago in June.
Look at the group that…
All of this work is being done by the ordinary people of God’s Kingdom.
All of this work is being done by His people who are called according to His purposes.
It is only by God’s grace that we are saved, called, and equipped to be in His service. If we come into God’s work with impressive talents, we risk taking the glory and credit for ourselves. God desires the weak and the lowly. As Paul said,
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
God uses ordinary people to do extra-ordinary things, and look around Our Redeemer, extraordinary things are being done.
God be with you, Pastor Hartwig