May 11, 2021 (Monday)
Litttle is known of five Apostles not yet discussed in this series on the Apostles: Philip, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew (Nathanael), Lebbaeus (Thaddeus), and James the son of Alpheus. (More is known about Judas Iscariot, whom we will discuss in the final blog of this series on the Apostles of Christ).
Evidently they lived their lives quietly. But that does not mean they did nothing important. It simply means that no writer took notice of what they may have been doing as Apostles of Christ.
I remember attending a funeral for a man famous in Baptist life for his accomplishments. He had raised much money, had ascended administrative ladders to become president of institutions, and had made quite a name for himself within the denomination. The minister conducting his service said, “I’ve tried to imagine what it must have been like when he crossed over” and then went on to describe his accomplishments that would be recognized and praised as he entered Heaven. At the time I could not help thinking about the quiet people of our faith, who serve the Lord day in and day out 24 hours a day 7 days every week. They do the things Jesus said he will praise when they appear before Him in judgment: they visit the sick, they visit the imprisoned, they feed the hungry, they give drink to the thirsty, they take in strangers, they clothe the needy and they comfort the grieving. They are not famous. Perhaps very few people know about them and the service they give to God by serving others.
So these five Apostles are not well known by us, but only because not much has been written about them. They were chosen by Jesus to become Apostles. There are, no doubt, many things about them we do not know, but God knows and that’s what matters. I believe there are people reading this who love and serve others without publicity. God bless you. The Lord knows and some day you will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord”<1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NIV).
Enjoy the video — watch in full screen:
FOLLOW ME
Music & Lyrics: Ira F Stamphill
1953
I traveled down a lonely road
And no one seemed to care,
The burden on my weary back
Had bowed me to despair,
I oft complained to Jesus
How folks were treating me,
And then I heard Him say so tenderly.
“My feet were also weary,
Upon the Calvary road;
The cross became so heavy,
I fell beneath the load,
Be faithful, weary pilgrim,
The morning I can see,
Just lift your cross and follow close to me.”
“I work so hard for Jesus,”
I often boast and say,
“I’ve sacrificed a lot of things
To walk the narrow way,
I gave up fame and fortune;
I’m worth a lot to Thee,”
And then I hear Him gently say to me,
“I left the throne of glory
And counted it but loss,
My hands were nailed in anger
Upon a cruel cross,
But now we’ll make the journey
With your hand safe in Mine,
So lift your cross and follow close to Me.”
O, Jesus if I die upon
A foreign field someday,
‘Twould be no more than love demands,
No less could I repay,
“No greater love hath mortal man
Than for a friend to die”
These are the words He gently spoke to me,
“If just a cup of water
I place within your hand
Then just a cup of water
Is all that I demand.”
But if by death to living
They can Thy glory see,
I’ll take my cross and follow close to Thee.