“ THANK GOD ! FOR THE GROUND CREW ”

By Aundra Bryant Tallahassee , Florida

Many times in our organizations , families and even on our jobs we forget to recognize those who work so hard to make sure that things flow correctly , the “ ground crew ”. In our lesson today , I would like to focus on the church briefly . In Revelations Chapter 7 verses 9- 14 , it speaks of a group of saints who are coming before God that no man could number and these are they who have had their robes washed in the blood of the lamb and have come through great tribulations .

There are three reasons why we need to thank God for the “ ground crew ”. The first reason is that those brothers and sisters who work so hard in the body of Christ have a special gift for service . Many times those who meet us at the door on Sunday morning know how to smile even though churchgoers may show a very nasty attitude as they enter into the presence of God . It was David who said “ I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness ”. Even when the choir has done their best , church folks will walk up to them and say “ I don ’ t like that song you sang this morning ”. It takes special kind of people to serve God ’ s extraordinary people but we must remember that “ only what we do for Christ will last ”.

Secondly , we need to thank God for the “ ground crew ” because they are truly dependable . I have heard some of my own church brothers and sisters say that I could have done a better job than they did but the truth of the matter is that they were not there . Believe me when I say that God can ’ t use your gift if you are not present . We must remember even now in 2008 what the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us and that is “ the race is not given to the swift nor the strong but to them that hold out and endure until the end . In many of our churches , bible study , church school and prayer meeting are only attended by a small number not because those that are not there don ’ t love the Lord but because they are not dependable . Our ancestors use to sing a spiritual which says “ when I get through working down here , out in the sunshine and out in the rain , I ’ m going home to live with Jesus , won ’ t it be grand . Brothers and sisters let us be more attentive to the activities to the body of Christ so that when the Lord calls our names , we can say present .

Finally , we need to thank God for the “ ground crew ” because they don ’ t mind doing the things that no one else wants to do . Many of us as members of the body of Christ only want to chair boards and programs . We love to do those things in our churches which have a title attached to it , however , I heard a man say the other day that I ’ m afraid that the title has us . Christ did some peculiar and strange things while here on earth such as washing his disciples feet , feeding the hungry , giving sight to the blind , healing those who had illnesses and diseases . The Gospel of Mark vividly talks about Christ as a servant who loves his people . Jesus Christ loved us so much that he humbled himself through forty two generations to bring to us redemption ’ s story . The next time we see someone cleaning up the church , cutting the grass or sweating

in the kitchen , we need to tell them I appreciate what you are doing and thank God for the “ ground crew ”

In closing today , there is a beautiful story told by Bishop John Bryant about a man who was sitting on a plane waiting for the takeoff . Suddenly , the pilot began to talk across the intercom “ Ladies and Gentlemen , we have a thirty minute delay , we will have everything checked out and we will be on our way . Thank you for your patience ”. The man looked out the window and saw a mechanic go under the plane with a bag in his hand . After a few minutes the man came from under the plane and gave the pilot a thumbs up . Then the pilot said “ Ladies and Gentlemen , we are ready now for takeoff , have a wonderful flight ”. Everyone on the plane began to cheer except for one man . A lady sitting behind him said “ Everyone except you cheered when the pilot said that we were about to takeoff ”. The man looked at the lady and said “ Everyone gave the pilot the credit but I thank God for the man with the bag in his hand , thank God for the “ ground crew ”.

UPS Store Jacksonville , Florida November 2008

Program Success November 2008 | Page 33

FROM GOD ’ S CORNER

“ THANK GOD ! FOR THE GROUND CREW ”