For the first time since its inception, the International Communion of Ministers (ICM) organised a conference outside Port Harcourt. Courtesy of Pastor Jasper Umoren, we had an ALL MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE in Calabar on Monday August 28, 2023. At that meeting, Pastor Johnnie Akpanke sang a song – YOU ARE THE REASON I LIVE – which I got to know for the first time that he wrote it 20 years earlier. I have sung the song and have listened to others sing it many times but never knew who wrote it. Some people have done a remix of it and cashed out on it in a big way. Yet, no due credit has been given to the author. What occurred to me was that only God can put true worth on our work. The minister who wrote the song may not have made a success out of it the way others have, but God will reward him for that iconic song.

This brings me to our text. All the characters but one in this verse are familiar. We can tell of the exploits of Gideon, Jephthah, and Samuel. But Bedan? There isn’t much to say about him from a human standpoint. Yet, the Holy Spirit deemed it necessary to include his name as one of the many saviours whom the Lord sent to deliver Israel. History is full of actors – some major and others minor. Both the majors and minors make up the full script. There are many more in God’s employ than the ones you know or have heard about. Yet, there is no one whose work will go unnoticed or  unrewarded in God’s own way and time. In case your placement in God’s scheme does not make the headline, don’t stress about it. What God is looking for is faithfulness in your little corner. If you serve faithfully in that obscure place, your reward will be trumpeted on the rooftop when it matters most.