FROM THE PULPIT: SIGNIFICANT MINISTRY?

The Sea of Galilee struck me as being so very small. Even calling it Lake Galilee, or Lake Gennesaret, or Lake Chinneroth, as it is sometimes also known, didn't really diminish my wonder at its small size. It's only about 14-by-8 miles (widest points). The opposite shore is easily seen from almost any other point; in fact, from many places, one can see the entire lake, and every boat on it!

So much happened on and around the Sea of Galilee. Much of Jesus' ministry took place here. The Sermon on the Mount was preached on a grassy slope overlooking the lake. Here Jesus miraculously fed crowds of over 5,000 and 4,000 (Matthew 14 and 15). Demon-possessed were delivered, and the sick were healed by the score, just by His touch. From towns on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called many of His disciples, and it was upon this lake Jesus walked on water, and stilled its storms (Matthew 14, Luke 8).

We toured many of these New Testament sites on our recent trip to Israel. We also stopped at the Jordan River northern baptismal site as we drove completely around the Sea of Galilee -- in one day!

The Messiah was expected to come in splendor to Jerusalem, from Bethlehem, the town of King David's birth. Yet whenever Jesus came to Jerusalem, it was humbly, and (except for Palm Sunday) quietly. He instead spent much of His time in Bethany, in the wilderness, and especially in Galilee, around the lake.

So often we look for important people and developments in our life to come from "some place else." Especially in outstate Missouri, we may expect significant events to originate in places as Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis, or Washington, D.C. Others may see us, or we may even see ourselves as little insignificant people in small insignificant places.

Our Lord's example shows otherwise. None of us is insignificant. God loves each and every one of us, whether we live in Washington or Pocahontas. Jesus died on the cross and arose from death for us all, whether we live in D.C. or Delta.

Each one of us has a God-ordained plan for our lives, some reason why God has put us where we are. (Besides, lots of "famous people" come from "insignificant places.") We are limited, not by location, but by lack of faith. We are limited, not by personal insufficiency, but by insincere consecration to God. "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings, he will not serve before obscure men." (Proverbs 22:29)

Whether we ever serve before kings, we always have opportunity to serve the king of kings. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men ..." (Colossians 3:23, see also Matthew 25:31-46.)

"Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual act of worship." (Romans 12:1) The best we can do is give ourselves to God -- it is He who created us and gave us life and all things and wherever we are, whatever we do, do God's will and His glory will be seen in us.