 Ten Little Christians - A Call Back to Mission
Satan wants us to get distracted from our mission of reaching out to the world, with petty squables, fractions, selfishness, and apathy. This little poem, Ten Little Christians, reminds us of needing to guard against these distractions--and of what can happen if we instead committed to Christ and his mission and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. • Ten little Christians, standing in a line, one disliked the preacher, then there were nine. • Nine little Christians stayed up very late, one slept in on Sunday, then there were eight. • Eight little Christians on their way to heaven, one took his own road, then there were seven. • Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks, one disliked the song leader, then there were six. • Six little Christians seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest then there were five. • Five little Christians pulling for heaven’s shore, but one stopped to rest, then there were four. • Four little Christians, busy as a bee, one got her feelings hurt, then there were three. • Three little Christians knew not what to do, one couldn’t forgive another, then there were two. • Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done, quarreled over petty stuff, then there was only one. • One little Christian, can’t do much ‘tis true; brought his friend to Bible study – then there were two. • Two earnest Christians, each won one more, that doubled the number, then there were four. • Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late, each won another, then there were eight. • Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before, in just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024. What do you think of this poem and the issues that it raises?
2 Comments
Before Jesus went to the cross, John's gospel tells us that Jesus washed his disciples' feet. While his disciples initially objected to this, Jesus did this to teach them about service. He said, "14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you" (John 1:1, 14-15). While it is implied in the passage, the opening verse of John 14 makes it clear why Jesus washes his disciples; feet--because of his love for them. In setting the scene for the foot washing, john says, "1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end . . . . " His washing of the disciples' feet was an act of love--that pointed to the larger act of love that he would show through through his death on the cross--which he was calling them to imitate. Love and service go together. Without love, we are unlikely to serve very long or with a very good attitude. And love without service is hollow sentimentalism at best, or at worse, simply non-existent. Jacob served 7 years for Rachel--was fulled into marrying Leah instead--and served another 7 years to be able to marry Rachel. And yet, the time passed for him as if it was nothing. One of the great stories of love and service in Christian history is found in the story of Ulfilas. Ulfilas' parents were apparently captured by the Goths--East Germans--and he was raised among the Goths. After moving away once he had grown up, Ulfilas was appointed as a missionary bishop to the barbarian and warlike Goths. And in his missionary efforts, Ulfilas spent SEVEN YEARS creating an alphabet for the Goths (a previously illiterate people) and translating most all of the Bible into that language so that he might share Christ with them. It was said that he translated the whole Bible from Greek into the Gothic language that he had created except the book of Kings, due to its violent narratives which he did not want to encourage in the warlike Goths. What could motivate someone to serve a people by actually sitting down and INVENTING an alphabet and translating nearly the whole Bible for a people who once apparently captured/enslaved his parents? Only love. The kind of love that Christ showed for us. As Jesus said, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:28). And if we are to reach people for Christ, we too must have love in our hearts for them. True love. If it is not a labor of love, then we likely will not last seven years. Probably not seven months. Maybe not even seven minutes! But if we love those we are reaching out to? Well, like Jacob and Ulfilas and Christ--the time will pass quickly! What do you think of Ulfilas' love and sacrifice? What other stories like this do you know?  |
Search this site for a preaching topic or sermon illustration or click on the categories below!
AuthorDr. James Nored is a minister and Executive Director of Next Generation for Christ. Categories
All
Archives
January 2016
|
RSS Feed