Central Bible College - Cup Yearbook (Springfield, MO)

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ORDINARY PEOPLE In scriptural record those who fill prominent places and are considered to be the greats may appear to be uniquely special. Yet, they are really just ordinary people . David's own father did not perceive him as a possible candidate to become the King of Israel, to say nothing of becoming the lineage from which Messiah was to come. Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived as thousands of other young jewish girls lived during that historical period. Peter, James, and John, the inner circle of disci- ples, were certainly not theologians - only ordinary fisherman. Have you observed how infrequently the scriptures refer to the background of individuals? The matter of importance is not what we were when Christ found us, but rahter what we become by the transforming power of God at work in our lives. Each of us, no matter how ordinary the world may consider us to be, has a valuable contribution to make in the Kingdom of God. Brothers, 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 . . . I Corinthians 1:26, 27 QNIVI H. Maurice Lednicky

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sf Theme CBC... Building People God uses ordinary people to do His will and work. I think He does this for at least two reasons. First, He has so many of us from which to choose. ln a real sense, extraordinary things are done by people who feel the same things that the rest of us feel. Some are put in unusual situations, some have unusual experiences, and some reap unusual results. This tends to cause us to view them as unusual people. However, they still hurt, bleed, and feel just like other ordinary people. The second reason may be found in II Cor. 417, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. When God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things, the glory goes rightfully to Him and not to man. Clay vessels are used as a medium of exchange. They only serve as an intermediary between C1od's work and God's enablement. Never fear to be called ordinary people that does not exclude us from C1od's service, but rather fear to be called unyielding people that can and does exlude us from His will and work. Virginia Arnold C-o's grace is a light which penetrates our smoke screen of big impressions and suave actions - a light which cuts through external appearances and reveals the real us - ordinary people. This grace levels out the ranks, bringing the mighty down and lifting the lowly up, revealing us all as ordinary people . . . But then, Christ died for ordinary people, not for super- beings. Only when we see through the smoke and recognize ourselves and others as ordinary people- not unimportant or plain, but as one of many for whom Christ died- then C-od can use us, but as ordinary people --- special because we glorify the Extra-Ordinary Son! Gary Craft if si. ,Q