ESTEVAN - Many small towns have billboards that brag about people who grew up there and then went on to bigger things. For example, Kelvington has a series of giant hockey cards at the edge of town to let people know that six of their hometown boys made it to the NHL.
Other places have signs dedicated to entertainers, politicians, journalists and others who made an impact on the world. We like to brag about those who did something big.
It is easy, then, for us to bring that same mindset to church and set up spiritual billboards that brag about certain preachers, teachers, authors or others who have done when we imply that God wants everyone to do something spectacular or unusual. In fact, Jesus was not very impressed by, nor attracted to, the superstars of his day. What is Jesus looking for then?
In Matthew 25, Jesus says that when he comes back to judge the world, he will divide everyone into one of two groups. To the righteous he will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (verses 34-36).
This group will respond by saying that they did not remember doing any of these things for Jesus and he will say, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me” (verse 40).
Jesus is not looking for the spectacular. He is looking for small acts of faithfulness. He is not impressed by one-time events, but with consistent service. Jesus is looking for signs of the new life in us. He wants hearts that have been changed to be like his so that we live with his power and spirit.
The world is impressed with celebrities, but it is changed by servants.
