“Small Name Among Big Names!”

“Small Name Among Big Names!”(Lk. 3:1-4).
Teacher: “Success in life depends on a good education.”
Kenneth: “Not always.”
Teacher: “I beg your pardon?”
Kenneth: “That’s not what my brother said.”
Teacher: “What did your brother say?”
Kenneth: “My brother said, “It is not what you know but who you know.”
Teacher: “I see. And who did your brother know?”
Kenneth: ” Nobody, thats why he doesn’t have a job.”…
You may call it comedy, but it’s a true reflection of how society mostly operates. Experience has shown that Kenneth’s brother has a strong point. What you know is important, but it may take you nowhere; unless you know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody…
Some of us are living examples of people whose what they know is not helping them because they disagree with people they know.
What you know is only helpful when by God’s design you get to know some people who matter. Like Kenneth’s brother many who know, are roaming the streets because they don’t know nobody.
Human relationship is somehow a key to success! Success in life may depend on what you know. But most times success in life depends partly on what you know and who you know.
When success in life depends solely on who you know, tribalism, nepotism, favouritism and discrimination will be rife. The outcome with be low output, mediocrity, nonchalance, pride and arrogance; worst of all the seeds of suspicion, intimidation and fear will pollute the atmosphere!
The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world was to change the above status quo. God in Christ takes us as we are to make us what he wants us to become.
But there is a sense in which God takes us by who we know: By knowing the Lord Jesus Christ!
The word of God came to John the Baptist – a nobody – , the Son of Zechariah – a nobody. John went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke makes us to understand that John’s ministry began during the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when “Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene – during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas.”
God did not chose John to be a herald for Christ because he John knew any of those political leaders or religious leaders. It was simply God’s choice!
The above political leaders are remembered today only in relation to John, otherwise they would have long faded into oblivion. But the story of John’s ministry will be repeated over the generations till the second coming of Christ. Yet he knew nobody and he was nobody compared to the big names mentioned in the text.
The message of John resounds through the messengers of today: Repent and receive forgivess for your sins. This means we must be willing to repent before God’s amazing grace can find us. God’s love never fails; that is why he has manifested it in his Son so that we can inherit eternal life.
Dear friend, make yourself available to be used by God. Success in God’s kingdom does not depend on the political or spiritual leader you know, but on your belief in Christ and obedience to God’s command.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank you for amazing grace. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.