I was thinking about two things this morning…the first was how many of us think we live ordinary, commonplace lives. The second, is Because we think we live commonplace lives, we can often waste a lot of time because we think there is no real need to hurry up and do the next great thing. At least I think this way sometimes.I am convinced that I am wrong on both accounts. In the first place, no one created by God is commonplace and though every person’s roles and positions look different, they are all equally necessary and important.Nathan Zacharias gives an illustration in an article he wrote about varying roles, “Yes, the poppies are the ones that seem to make the biggest impact on those taking in the scenic view. But quickly the viewer realizes that the poppies' color is made radiant because of the golden color of the cornfields. Their strengths compliment each other. They are "equally lovely," in Boreham's words, and they both need each other. Alone, they both lose some of their radiance. Together, they cause people to simply stop and look. The same holds true for the roles God gives each one of us. Some of us are the poppies that make the initial impact. Some of us are the golden cornfields that surround, support, and help the poppy stand out. Neither side belittles the other, but rather, they help the other shine.”
Zacharias goes on to say…"We don't have to make headlines to be a success in life. It's not the news we make or the attention we get that determines whether or not we are making a difference in this world. It's the cause we serve. God has created each and every one of us, and he's given us very specific gifts that He will use to help further His kingdom. For some, it's the responsibility of success and using that to represent the Faith in the public eye. For others, it's the duty to support and encourage those on the front lines. As Boreham said, one is not greater than the other. It is a team effort. And ultimately, each of us has the chance to make a difference every day. It's not in the awards we win; it's in the character we hold to in our day to day lives.”
A commonplace life, we say and we sigh,
But why should we sigh as we say?
The commonplace sun and the commonplace sky
Makes up the commonplace day.
The moon and the stars are commonplace things,
And the flower that blooms and the bird that sings;
But dark were the world and sad our lot,
If the flowers failed and the sun shone not.
And God who studies each separate soul
Out of the commonplace lives makes His beautiful whole.—Anonymous
1 Corinthians 12:12 “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
In light of all of this I have been challenged to live purposefully. I shouldn't wait for someone else to serve a family in the church, or preach the gospel to that person, or encourage the friend who’s going through a difficult time…I should live every minute to it’s fullest for His glory lest I lose it.
James 4:13-14 "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
“Whence proceeds the great stupidity of men, who, bound fast to the present state of existence, proceed in the affairs of life as if they were to live two thousand years…. In short, men are so dull as to think that thirty years, or even a smaller number, are, as it were, an eternity; nor are they impressed with the brevity of their life so long as this world keeps possession of their thoughts…. How speedily our life vanishes away. The imagination that we shall have long life, resembles a profound sleep in which we are all benumbed.”-John Calvin
Tomorrow is never promised to us, so I know that I need to make the most of today. Commonplace or not God has called me to certain things and my prayer is that I will live my ordinary life for the glory of our extraordinary God.
1 comment:
Thanks...I found your post helpful today.
(here is a little something I was writting yesterday that goes long, I think.)
2 Corinthians 4: 7,14-15, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us… knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, …For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
This American culture has a way of making thing less happening than hollywood seem, commonplace. Yet, the only eternal and infinitley beautify purpose that the whole universe spins toward is God and His Glory being display!
This is why Paul says our treasure is that we are dirty clay vessels. Then comes along God and pours His radiance glorious light into these clay cups. When a person sees a clay cup filled with diamonds, they know it is the diamonds that is valuable not the cup. Yet, now this worthless cup has value because of what is in it. This is like us. God fills us with His glorious Son. Although we are worthless, we have the wonderful pleasure of hosting the radiant light of heaven in our souls, Jesus Christ the magnificent.
It is like the moon. Without the Sun, the moon is nothing more than a dirty rock floating in darkness. Without the Sun we would not even know it was there! Yet, with the Sun shinning its light on the moon, reflecting its brilliant light, the moon is transformed from dust into a glorious painting for every marveling eye to behold.
One chief way you would love your spouse more is to spend time with them. The more you look at the stars at night the more you love them. So to the more you see the beauty and truths of Jesus Christ the more you will love Him, and like Moses will come away with your life shining like the Sun of Righteousness, for His glory.
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