Ordinary People Doing God's Work

During the period between 2003 and 2004, I spent a considerable amount of time researching and writing the history of Presbyterians here in Meaford, Ontario, Canada, from 1854 to 2004. I found the names of the thirty ministers and student ministers who did the Lord's work during those 150 years. I also found the names of a great many of the people in the congregations, ordinary people who did so many of the things which needed to be done. Some of the names showed up for decades, others just for a year or so.

Of course, there were also literally hundreds of people whose names were not mentioned at all, but I think that a great many of them were also involved in bringing the gospel to all the people in this area for those many years. They were just ordinary people who brought God's Word, and that made me think of the early disciples who joined Jesus.

Some of them are well known, like Peter, James, and John, whom we hear about quite often. Others we hear about just occasionally — Bartholomew, Thaddeus, and another James, for instance. Then there was Andrew, who was first a follower of John the Baptist and was present at the Jordan River when John was preaching and announcing that Jesus was the Messiah. There is not much written about what Andrew did, but it appears that he was good at talking to people, for he introduced several people to Jesus. The first one was his brother Peter:

John 1:40-42a – One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. (NKJV)

When Jesus had been teaching a great number of people, He asked Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" It appears that Andrew had befriended a young lad, and he had the solution:

John 6:8-9 – One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?" (NKJV)

After Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, it is evident that Philip knew that Andrew was good at introducing people to Jesus:

John 12:20-22 – Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. (NKJV)

Andrew talked to people. He told them about Jesus and introduced them to Him. He did not write any books like some of the others did, but like some of the people in the history of our churches, his name is mentioned. Will our names be mentioned as well in the history recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life?

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for all the ordinary people who have done so much to tell others about Your Son Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. We pray in His name. Amen.

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