Ordinary people are important to God, which is a theme throughout the Bible. You may think yourself typical, but you are very important to God. Abraham lived in obscurity until the Lord called Him to be the Father of the Israelites. When God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross to escape the Egyptian army, thousands of people were saved, but we only know a few names, such as Moses. Most people who crossed the Red Sea were ordinary, but God valued and rescued them supernaturally.
In all the world, most people think of themselves as ordinary, but God does not think of us as ordinary. There was a time when the Lord decided to create you to help fulfill His master plan on this earth. Not a day goes by that the Lord does not think about and interact with you. When Jesus died on the cross, all of humanity’s sins, including yours, were poured out on Jesus. Jesus died for you on the cross because you are important and worth saving.
Angels Appeared to Common Shepherds
In the modern era, we think of the shepherds in the Christmas Story as majestic, but that was not true in their time. Shepherds in those days were considered near the bottom of the social ladder of society. Yet the Lord sent an angel to them to announce the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 , but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David![1]
You may think you are unimportant to God or He is not paying attention to your situation, but that is not true. The people more likely to come to faith and live out the Christian life are not the world’s elite but ordinary people.
God Uses Ordinary People to do Extraordinary Things
The ordinary shepherds would tell many people about their encounter with the Lord’s angels and the newborn Savior. God did not entrust the privileged of the world with this opportunity but simple shepherds. I believe this gives insight into the Lord and how He sees us. The Lord is the model of humility and uses humble, unassuming people to carry out His divine plans on the earth.
I met a man serving a long-term sentence during a prison visit and was also leading a discipleship ministry in the prison. Yes, the Lord called a prisoner to faith and placed on his heart to tell others in the jail about Jesus. As we listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He will guide us in many ways, including using you to build God’s Kingdom.
Paul gives us insight into being transformed and living for the Lord. Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.[2]
Merry Christmas! To learn how ordinary people are important to God, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/fulfilled-birth-of-jesus
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Lk 2:8–11). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ga 2:20). Tyndale House Publishers.