Hillcrest AIDS Center **this is the devotion I had the privilege to lead

The devotion at Hillcrest AIDS Center that I had the privilege to lead

To my blog audience in America these are the 'brown coins' ~ 

  5 cent in Rand = .005 USD   

10cent in Rand = .01 USD

20cent in Rand = .02 USD

50cent in Rand = .05 USD

We make our beginning in the name of the Triune God, God the Father, God the Son and God the Hold Spirit. Worshipped and glorified around the world as the only true God.

I got some really bad advice 17 months ago.  I was told that the South African brown coins are basically worthless and not to bother with them. After 17 months of tossing them into a jar I have a very large collection of brown coins. 

Just last week I came to the realization that those coins do have value – just as much value as any other denomination of coin or bill.  I also realized that society, our friends and maybe even our family’s think that we work we do and the people we serve are like the brown coins.

Here are five points comparing what I was told that brown coins are worthless to our ministries as servants for the Lord Jesus Christ:

#1.     Sure the brown coins are small – I can hardly see the 10cent piece. Does what we do seem small? Do you ever feel small?  What about the people we serve?

Matthew 13:31-32 in the Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast Jesus reminds us of the value He places on small items:

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

#2. Sure it does take a lot of coins to make 1 Rand – it takes a lot of people to run this organization, it is taking a lot of people to minister to the people of Ntshongweni but a lot is Okay by God’s standards.  God loves groups of people advancing His kingdom.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

#3. Sure carrying the brown coins are more of a burden – caring for those we care for can be a burden if we think we are doing it alone – but Psalms 68:19 tells us we are not doing it alone – it’s not a burden.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens

#4. Sure the coins are heavier than the bills and our jobs are heavier than the average job but I’m sure you agree with me that it is so worth the extra effort each day to be living and working in the center of God’s will for our lives and the lives we reach each day.  Matthew 11:28-30

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

#5. Yes, the brown coins aren’t as shiny as the silver coins nor as pretty as the dollar bills. There are many people whom we work and associate with that aren’t as shiny and pretty as the rest – some of us aren’t too shiny or pretty either but 1 Samuel 22:1-2 reminds us that everyone needs a commander – a king and that Person is Jesus.

David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

Ginger and I were called to be a witness in Ntshongweni – you are called to be a witness here at the Hillcrest AIDS Center. Our jobs are difficult and often valued about as much as the brown coins, next time you spend a brown coin remember that we have value, that the people we serve have value – although small, that it takes many, heavy and unattractive our value and worth is in the blood of lamb, Christ Jesus.

I am donating this jar of brown coins to this organization.  It may not add up to much - looks small- but now we know it has value, now we know it has worth all because of Jesus our Lord and Savior.