VERSE: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself.” Acts 20:24
OSWALD: ““It takes Almighty grace to take the next step when there is no vision and no spectator – the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen; the next step in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiasm and no spectator. It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that step, than it does to preach the Gospel.”- (March 4th)
MY THOUGHT: Ah, the ordinary. The mundane. The boring minutiae of life. Can I be faithful where God places me though I sense no glow of revelation, no constant sense of His presence? Can I serve God when He doesn’t speak or visibly direct? Can I offer my day to Him as a love gift though there seems nothing of any eternal value to which I can point. Nothing but a part-way clean house, half-finished laundry and story time with my nine-year-old?
It amazes me that in God’s economy, it is the small things that count most. A cup of cold water given in His name. Those times I offer my cloak to a shivering soul. The more difficult times I lower my fist and turn the other cheek.
I’m finding that it is ordinary acts of daily obedience that bring Him as much joy as the times I step out in faith and attempt to walk on water. For in God’s eyes, there is no separation between the sacred and secular when it comes to my life. For all of it is holy when placed it in His hands.
Whenever I try to determine where I am of best use to God, I usually miss what He has in mind. For He has called me to be a surrendered vessel not a self-determined one. He has called me to be completely and totally His – right in the middle of the dailyness of life. For something miraculous happens when I do…
Though I see only an impromptu phone call, a casual hug, or a spontaneous smile, the person on the receiving end may perceive answered prayer. The voice of God, the arms of their Savior, a deeply-needed acknowledgement of their value.
So rather than focusing on walking on water or trying to determine how God might use us best, perhaps we should spend more time simply abandoning all we are to Him. Willingly offering our lives to be His hands and feet. His arms and His heart. Though all we do today is wash dishes and sing lullabies. Sell real estate or rub our wife’s feet.
Doing it all as unto the Lord. Working with all our might. For Him and to Him.
“Never consider whether you are of use,” Oswald writes, “but ever consider that you are not your own but His.”