Daily Devotions
Tribute to Brad Cicero (1949-2021)
Tribute to Brad Cicero (1949-2021)
Reading for April 28: 1 Chronicles 3-4
Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.
1 Chronicles 4:10
Brad Cicero lost his long battle with Parkinson's disease last week and his memorial service will be today at the Northwood church of Christ where he served as an elder and where I've preached the last eight years.
In my lesson on Sunday I talked about how Brad loved the lesser known characters of the Bible. He organized a whole study at Northwood around what he called "obscure characters of the Bible." We studied the widow who brought her two mites into the Temple; about the little servant girl of Naaman the Syrian captain who told her master there was a prophet in Israel who could cure him of his leprosy; about a "certain disciple" (and Brad liked to emphasize those two words) named Ananias who bravely went to Saul of Tarsus, the chief enemy of the church, to tell him what he must do to be saved. Brad loved stories like these.
He loved them because he identified with them. He saw himself as not being all that intelligent or talented (though he was both very intelligent and very talented). He felt intimidated by those whom he felt were superior to him (not knowing how much those people looked up to him). And so when I saw our reading this morning was taken from a list of names whom most of us don't know, I thought this was oddly appropriate for Brad that his tribute should come from these chapters. What better way to memorialize our brother than to take one of these no-names to talk about Brad?
Jabez prayed that God would bless him and enlarge his border. I believe Brad prayed every morning (and I know he prayed daily) that God would make something of his life. Brad influenced countless numbers of young men and women (as well as quite a few older men and women). Brad was blessed to see these young men and women grow up at Northwood and then leave to go on and do great things for the Lord. And they would still call him up on the phone to check on him and see how he was doing.
Brad called upon the God of Israel and the Lord granted him what he asked. He blessed my brother and enlarged his border. And now he's free from all his pain and suffering and at home with the One he loved so much.
Father, thank you for my brother and all he has done for me and so many others.
