“The Lord must love common people because he made so many of them.” We love these words of Abraham Lincoln because most of us are such people. We have a habit of lumping people together in masses. In industry we call them “hands;” in politics, “votes;” in baseball, “fans;” in social work, “cases.” To a salesman, “prospects;” to the merchant, “customers;” to the onlooker, “the crowd;” to the police, “the mob.”

Mark 12:37 says, “The common people heard him gladly.” Jesus had a message for the common people, and the farmer left his plow, the tradesman closed his shop, the fisherman forsook his nets, to follow the Master. Luke 19:48 adds that the people were “very attentive to hear Him.” They were even willing to come “early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him” (Luke 21:38).

The result of this people’s humble desire was their humble obedience. Paul said, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26). If you are “common,” don’t despair! Christ died for people just like you!

Kyle Campbell