A Servant of God

Read: John 14: 1-21

I am a member of the body of Christ. Some people are honorable members of the Church. I am so honored to be a member that I prefer to describe my participation in the life of the faith community as one humble member. You will not find my name listed or my person being noted as honorable. In fact, you will not find humble as the description for me either. I am laughing out loud thinking about it. If you ever search me out among the people of God, I will be described as pastor.

Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. What a wonderful name. Jesus. I appreciate the name of Jesus, however, the power of the name for me is in the life of Jesus. In the private revelation of Jesus in the Gospel of John 13-17, we read of the inclusion of believers in the life of Jesus. By faith Jesus lives in believers. Faith in Jesus is so powerful that it assures eternal life and paves the way to knowing God. Jesus did not promise that would understand God. The fulfilled promise of Jesus is that through Him people of faith will come to know God and be known by God. To know Jesus is to love Jesus. Loving Jesus is loving the children of God. I am extremely humbled to know that God so loved the world, including me, that He gave us Jesus, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but enjoy everlasting life. Oh, how I love Jesus! Do you?

Inez Small was born on February 2, 1917 in Andrew, South Carolina. I recall playing basketball in 1971 and 1972 in that little rural area of South Carolina. My Mother provided social work in the area, when we lived in Kings tree, SC. It was known for having beautiful girls, and Inez had to be one of them. I met her on the first Sunday in December of 2003. Her youth had been removed, but her beauty was captured within her smiled until her death on January 2, 2010. After high school and a youthful wedding, she said hello to life in New York City.

She joined Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church in Harlem in the early fifties. Her faithfulness to the body of Christ - the Church has been noted as exemplary. Because of the love of Jesus Christ, she reached for Christian perfection through Christian service. We do not have a "hall of fame" in our local church. Should we ever design one, Inez would be among those described as honorable. Since we do not have a hall of fame, you may sincerely write on the memory wall of your heart: Inez Small lived and died as "A Servant of God."

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, because of your everlasting love, believers are granted eternal life. Savior, we thank you. Amen.