Janitors Wanted
May 16, 2010
by Ron Ramage
Several years ago I heard a story about a bible college professor who had an exam at the end of the semester which would count as one fifth of the students overall grade. When everyone was seated, and the professor had told them to turn over their test and start, the students were very surprised to find only one question on the entire exam. The question was simple. What is the name of the school janitor?
The concept was simple as well. How many of these students had taken the time to stop and thank the person who picked up their trash and cleaned up after them day after day, week after week? How many had cared enough to even ask their name?
Most of us don’t aspire to be a janitor. It often involves working alone, cleaning up after others and getting things setup and ready for the next work day when it starts all over again. There is little in the way of job recognition and always someone higher up who supervises what you do. Not very glamorous is it? But, doesn’t that sound just like the type of servant God wants us all to be?
In 1 Peter 5:5-6 it says to “gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
According to Webster, the definition of humble is: “not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive; reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission”. The question for all of us is how do we become more humble?
Most of us would like to think that we are willing to subject ourselves to God, the elders, our spouses, or our Christian family. But do we really? How exactly do we exhibit that spirit of submission to others? Do others see us as someone who is humble, or someone who is arrogant and assertive?
We live in a society where self is very important. The world appreciates those who assert themselves, take charge, and set themselves apart from everyone else. If you don’t get the first word in, then you may never get a chance to voice your opinion. Don’t let people tell you what to do either, for that is a sign of weakness. And, do not stop and pick up someone else’s trash, for that is beneath someone of your stature. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking is the opposite of being humble and more importantly, in direct opposition to what God wants us to be.
In reality a lot of us probably humble ourselves at times and under certain situations, especially if we recognize that someone else may have more experience or knowledge. Where we often fall short is when you think you are the one with all the answers or the one who thinks they have a better way of doing things, or the one who thinks there are others lower than you who will take care of it. When that happens we have a choice: Do we humble ourselves, or do we let that inner self take over?
Of course the ultimate example was shown by Christ. Christ was already in heaven, the son of God, and yet allowed himself to be sent to earth where he grew to be a man who learned a trade as a common carpenter. During his ministry he was willing to teach anyone who would listen and he taught using plain and common language and examples. He was willingly to go and visit those who were diseased, lame and possessed and have compassion on them. He was willing to wash feet and dine with sinners. When it was time, he allowed himself to die such a cruel death while knowing not only that he was innocent, but that he could have stopped it. To top it all off, he all of this because his father asked him to. Talk about being humble!
If we would just look we can all find more ways to humble ourselves and to serve one another. More importantly, if we look we may find that what God wants… is more janitors.
Vacation Bible School
May 8, 2010
Title: Vacation Bible School
Location: Hickman Mills church of Christ
Description: 2010 VBS Theme: Anchored in Jesus
For Ages: Cradle – 6th Grade
Start Date: 2010-06-07
Start Time: 10:00
End Date: 2010-06-10
End Time: 12:00
Blessed Assurance
May 2, 2010
by Greg Fitzsimmons
When I think of Christian love, I think of the Apostle John. In John’s gospel record he doesn’t speak of himself by name, but rather as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. What a tender expression that is, and what a wonderful example of Christian love John gives us.
When our Lord and Savior was dying on the cross, he spoke to his mother and then to the beloved John. “When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” (John 19:26-27). I cannot imagine a greater compliment of a dear friend than to be entrusted with the care of that friend’s loved ones.
As Christian and as an elder, I often look to John’s example and his inspired words to strengthen me, encourage me, and guide me.
In his epistles John wrote to Christians as “little children”. This term did not originate with John. Our Lord Jesus had previously used this term in speaking to the eleven disciples after Judas had gone out to betray Him, saying “Little children, I am with you a little while longer.” (John 13:33)
Jesus then followed by telling the eleven: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) That theme of love for one another given Jesus was carried by John throughout his writings and his life. The example it gives to us is our reminder that we are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When we love one another, we demonstrate our love for Jesus. As we continue to follow John’s example, we see that loving one another means more that silently caring for them. It also means teaching, correcting, and exhorting them. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1) We, like John, must encourage one another to live righteously, and not sin. We are not to overlook sin, but are to encourage one another not to sin. And if our loved ones do sin, we are to exhort them to turn away from sin. We are to remind them that they, as Christians, have an Advocate with the Father. Jesus is our Advocates as well as our Savior. “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.” (I John 2:12) Once again like John, we must let them know that when they do sin, those sins can be forgiven.
“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” (I John 2:28) We must remind ourselves and others that we are to abide in Him, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. By abiding in Him, we can look forward to that glorious day when we appear before the judgment seat, rather than shrinking from it in fear, dread, and shame.
“Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;…” (I John 3:7) John reminds us that if we are the wear the name of Christ and truly be His disciple, we must live righteously. To be a follower of Christ, we must always strive to live Christ-like. As the bracelets that used to be popular reminded people, we must ask daily before we act, “What would Jesus do?”
“Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (I John 3:18) It is easily to talk the talk, but John reminds us the importance of walking the walk. Our daily walk with Jesus lead us to actively pray for others, call on those who need help or encouragement, to think more highly of others than of ourselves. We are not to love with words, but with deeds, with actions, in truth.
“You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (I John 4:4) What comfort and confidence we draw from these words. We can face and triumph over the temptation and things of the world, with the assurance that He who is in us, as Christians, is greater that the things of this world.
“Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” (I John 5:21) Finally, John warns the little children to guard themselves from idols. Christians today face the bombardments of advertisers telling us we need newer and bigger things—homes, cars, games, clothes, all manner of things! We need the gentle, loving reminder from John that these things can become our Idols, and that we as christians are to guard ourselves from Idols.
John ended his Gospel account by telling us “This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they we written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written”. (John 21:24-25) In closing his Gospel account, John assures us that we have all we need to know to receive and accept the salvation of Jesus. If our lives are truly led by Jesus, we too can be a “disciple whom Jesus loved”. What a blessed assurance!