Ordinary People

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13

Ordinary, basic, plain, normal.  None of these sound very exciting.  Where is the action?  Where is the adventure?  Where is the drama?

As we consider the early church, we find a whole group of ordinary people; fishermen, tax collectors, tent makers, and the like.  So how did this group of ordinary people make such an extraordinary difference?

The people of the early church were forever changed by an encounter with Jesus Christ. As a result of this encounter, they came to possess the very presence and power of God in their lives through the Holy Spirit. Together, as God directed them, their new lives in Christ were used to turn the world right-side-up.

Today as Christ-followers, we have the privilege and responsibility to carry on the mission of the early church.  However, before we start relying on all our technological advancements and theological insights, we must remember one basic truth: God is still in the business of using ordinary people to carry out His work.  We are living out God's plan and God's purposes.  He has the big picture in mind and all the details worked out.  He is looking for ordinary people; people like you and me.  He wants to move in and through us to make a difference.

For this to happen, we have to be fully available to Him.  We have to be willing to commit our lives to His plans and purposes.  We have to be all in!  The people of the early church did not have the education, the knowledge or the perspective that we have today.  However, what they had was a commitment to what they believed that resulted in action.

One more thing.  The verse at the top of this page gets right at the heart of the issue.  Peter and John were bold and courageous to the point of astonishing the people around them.  How was this possible?  They were just ordinary men.  Take a look at the end of the verse: "these men had been with Jesus."  Today, our opportunity to be with Jesus is found as we spend time with Him in the Bible and in prayer.

Ordinary people + Jesus = making a difference!  Being ordinary doesn't sound so bad after all.

PS – my family is continuing our journey through the Bible.  We’ve completed the gospels, now we are moving through the rest of the New Testament.  Join us at www.thesprings.typepad.com/thejourneycontinues.