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God
created all men. Not just the rich and famous, but all men.
I’m so glad He didn’t leave out the little
people–mainly, because I’m one of them.
It’s worth noting that in all His dealings with mankind, He
always had time for the little people. The insignificant and
unknown received His attention just like those who were
notable. He makes it emphatically known that He is the God of
all people.
In the Old Testament Scriptures, there are constant reminders
that God plays no favorites and makes no special provisions
for those who are noteworthy. For instance, in His list of the
posterity of
Judah
, there is the mention of a man named Jabez. Nothing more is
known of him, but God took notice and caused his works to be
declaimed to all of us. It is said of him that he “...called
on the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that thou wouldest bless me
indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be
with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may
not grieve me.” What a simple, but beautiful prayer. By a
great man? I don’t know. Who is he? Just Jabez. That’s all
I know. But God knows. From this simple mention we learn that
even the most insignificant can have the notice and approval
from God.
There are numerous mentions of the simple folk in the Gospels.
It has always impressed me that Jesus, when it came time to
declare Himself, did not go to the Sanhedrin to select His
fellow laborers; He went to the simple folk. His Apostles were
not men of renown or men of higher educational circles. He
chose some fishermen. He chose a publican.
And when it came to revealing Himself as the Messiah, He
didn’t go to the hierarchy for that declaration, He went to
the simple folk. It is said of Him that “the common people
heard Him gladly” (Mark 12:37). He, in fact, warned the
people about the “leaven of the Pharisees” (Matt. 16:6),
as well as the influences of the Scribes, men of influence in
the community.
When He saw the people wandering on the plain before He fed
the 5,000, He was “...moved with compassion toward them,
because they were as sheep not having a shepherd” (Mark
6:34). And when He looked out across the Kidron brook and saw
His city, given over to sin and ungodliness, He said, in a fit
of compassionate concern, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how
often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a
hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not!” (Matt. 22:37).
Jesus’ care for and love of the simple people is evident
everywhere in His personal ministry. His trek through the
cities and towns is punctuated with mentions of people on whom
He had compassion and for whom He felt sincere care. Zaccheus
was not only a man little of stature, but little in the eyes
of the people–he was a Publican, one who made a living by
farming taxes, an occupation despised by his fellows. And yet
Jesus called him out of the crowd and gave him special
consideration (Luke 19:1-7). His care for people like Martha
and Mary Magdalene and Lazarus and literally dozens of others
makes us know for a certainty that He not only notices, but
genuinely cares for the simple folk–folks like most of us.
When the Hebrew writer lists the men in God’s hall of faith
(Hebrews 11), he doesn’t leave out the unknown soldier. At
the end of that list, having made known the names and the
faith of the ancient heros, he turns to the nameless people
who were just as faithful, just as worthy of God’s notice.
He calls them “women” and “others” and “they,”
never once giving a name or locations, and, in the end, he
says, “these all” when he refers to the faithful.
Paul mentions people who are never identified at the end of
several of his epistles–men like Tychicus, Stephanas and
Fortunatus and Achaicus and several others, men about whom we
know little or nothing, but men known to God and whom he
considered important to the work he was doing.
And John, in his epistles just speaks of Demetrius, “the
lady and her children,” “the children of thy elect
sister,” or “little children,” designations of love for
people nobody ever heard of.
Most of us are the little people. We’re not quoted on the
evening news, nor is there a street named in our honor. We
don’t command any special respect or bring any special
accolades from the public. But we’re important to God.
Didn’t John say in that famous passage (John 3:16) that
“...whosoever believeth in him might be saved.”
Christ died for all of us–yes, for even me. There are no big
people and little people in the
kingdom
of
God
, just a numerous host of forgiven sinners. Let us rejoice and
be glad.
Dee Bowman
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