Friday, March 16, 2012
People You Think Matter May Not See You Shine
Jon Bloom @ Desiring God:
The thought that occurred to me when I read through this was that we may not know Andrew as well as we know his brother, but the people Andrew touched know him better than Peter or John or James. And int he end, that is what matters.
“Andrew. Oh! You’re Simon Peter’s brother, aren’t you?”I love the idea of "shadow-servant." It puts me in mind of the cliche' "a light shines brightest in the dark."
Andrew must have gotten used to that. Even the New Testament introduces him as “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother” (John 1:40). Peter’s shadow is cast over Andrew from the beginning.
Andrew is mentioned by name 12 times in the New Testament. In ten of those he’s named along with Peter, and usually as Peter’s brother. Peter, on the other hand, has over 150 mentions, and actually contributed to the New Testament.
[...]
But Andrew had a great shadow-servant mentor in John the Baptist. Andrew had learned from John that “a person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven” (John 3:27). John had seen Jesus’ rise and his own decline in prominence and said with joy-filled faith, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
[...]
Today, be content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5), and be faithful with what you have been given (Matthew 25:21). Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand, trusting that he will exalt you at the proper time and in the proper way (1 Peter 5:6).
Be like Andrew. This shadow-servant was faithful, obedient, responsive, trusted, willing, and courageous. Tradition says that he continued to preach the gospel and plant churches until he was martyred by crucifixion in the AD 60’s
Let us serve in the shadows God places us with that same joy-filled, overcoming faith.
The thought that occurred to me when I read through this was that we may not know Andrew as well as we know his brother, but the people Andrew touched know him better than Peter or John or James. And int he end, that is what matters.
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