In The Shadows.

There are a vast number of people who work in christian and church circles who always seem to be nameless and in the background. They busily labour away and are seldom ever seen in the spotlight of church functions or celebrations. They clean the church, do the administration. Look after the various youth groups and organise the music. But no one ever gets to see them while they’re working. Everything just seems to come together during the service and no one is any the wiser for the workers in the background.

One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, was just such a person. Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter and he had previously been a disciple of John, the Baptiser. And yet, it was Andrew who went and got Peter when Jesus was baptised by His cousin, John. Read the words as recorded by the Apostle John…

John 1v40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John (the Baptiser) had said and who had followed Jesus. v41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). v42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).

At the feeding of the 5000. It was Andrew who spoke up and told Jesus about the boy with the loaves and fish…

John 6v8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, v9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many (people)?"

Neither are some other of the disciples mentioned as having been very active – Bartholomew, Thaddeus, etc. Yet they were all there and all were a very integral part of the team.

And yet, although Andrew was a central figure of the disciples, he wasn’t mentioned very often. He doesn’t seem to have been one of the “inner circle” of the main group of disciples. He wasn’t recorded as having been in the room when Jairus’ daughter was raised. He didn’t receive an invitation from Jesus to the Mount of Transfiguration. And, although he was there, he is not mentioned in the account of events at The Garden of Gethsemane.

Are we like that? Busy working away and praising God, or working within our various circles of church life, but always in the shadows? Well, actually, this is normal.

There was an important figure very closely connected with Martin Luther. It was Luther who translated the latin bible into german. This man's name is Philip Melancthon. He is sometimes seen on the traditional paintings of Luther at the church doors of Wittenburg and he was Luther’s right hand man. And it is noted that Melancthon more often had to hold Luther back and calm him down as Luther had a reputation of being outspoken and bullish. Yet, very few people know Philip Melancthon’s name.

It is very easy to sometimes feel neglected, or left out of the main proceedings. And it is with these feelings of isolation that we can easily forget that it is God we are working for, and not the others in the church. But God knows…

Psalm 37v24 “Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

So, take heart, dear friends. God sees what you’re doing. God knows how your heart is. And God will bless you in due time for your work…

1st Corinthians 15v58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Thessalonians 5v11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

God Bless you, Amen. 

If you could see what I once was. If you could come with me.
Back to where I started from, then I know you would see.
A miracle of love that took me in it's sweet embrace.
And made me what I am today - Just an old sinner saved by Grace.

I'm just a sinner saved by Grace.
When I stood condemned to death
He took my place.
Now I live and breathe in freedom
With each breath of life I take.
Loved and forgiven, backed with a living,
I'm just a sinner saved by Grace.
 
Email - TheseLivelyOracles@hotmail.com
Internet - www.theselivelyoracles.co.uk
Facebook - These Lively Oracles
Twitter(X) - @LivelyOracles58

 

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