From time to time, well-meaning friends have offered encouragement with these types of words, "You are gonna do great!"
Generally, it's in response to a prayer request for an upcoming speaking event, where my heart and intent is that the Lord's words be spoken with integrity.
I take very seriously James 3:1, which reads:
"Not many of you should become teachers...for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness (ESV)."
No matter what version you read, the verse stings with conviction!
I also heard (more when younger), "You guys will, undoubtedly, do BIG THINGS for the Lord."
These statements ran through my mind this week as we hosted, loved on, and shared lives with a rural pastor and his wife who've served faithfully in small churches for the last 30-some years. Their current church boasts a membership of about 70.
Plus, we visited this week with a dear friend serving a church of 12-members (having left a church over three times that size), where he and his wife heard a clear call to minister. By the way, this is a pretty "big" church for that area.
The words "big" and "great" are really undefinable.
What is big to one is small to another and, maybe, HUGE to someone else.
Both words imply comparison.
For this ❤ is big next to ❤
This ❤ is bigger...
...but this ❤ is BIGGEST, yet.
These words can also trip up Jesus-followers, especially if they have a desire to make a difference.
Ruth Chou Simons asks in one of her books:
"Can a small and hidden life be as glorious as one seen and heard across the globe?"
It's a valid question, and one those of us who serve the Kingdom in often small and out of the way places ask ourselves (albeit, silently) regularly.
Again, the words "big" and "great" mean something entirely different to those who live in this world; but we will never serve with persistence and steadfastness if we continue to look through the "perspecticals" of the world.
The world's way of measuring is totally different than the Lord's way.
The world measures in dollars, the size of the audience, the numbers of likes and followers on social media. The world measures in influence.
Not so the Lord.
The Lord measures in faithfulness.
Are we walking in Jesus' footsteps? Are we living dead, dying-to-self, daily? Do we seek His face, discipline ourselves for godliness, serve with humility; and more importantly, are we living His purpose for our lives?
This is God's ruler:
Are we seeking to bring Him glory?
Are we displays of His splendor?
Are we reflections of His character?
Are we lights in the darkness?
Grace and mercy (John 1:14)? Truth and wisdom? Creativity and love for all mankind (Psalm 19:1)?
That's the answer to the question above that caused me pause this week...
...for the answer is: Yes! What seems to be a small and hidden life might be even more glorious as we look at how things are as seen through God's eyes.
Faithfully raising littles to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength?
That's a big work!
Speaking Jesus to small audiences?
That's a big work!
Building a wall, like Nehemiah, because you know that no city can stand protected without one?
That's a great work (BTW, Nehemiah knew it and he refused to stop repairing the wall until it was finished)!
Cleaning floors, picking up trash, wiping out toilets in your church for only a nod, and not even a pat on the back?
That's a big work!
Can I just be a sticky note on your refrigerator this week reminding you that if you are serving as "unto the Lord" and not as "unto yourself," the Lord sees, He cares, and He will reward in due time.
In the midst of all this pondering, I was reminded of two songs. One is a stanza from an age-old hymn, the other a more recent message in music by Casting Crowns.
First the hymn: All Glory Be to Christ
"Should nothing of our efforts stand, no legacy survive;
Unless the Lord doth raise the house, in vain its builders strive.
To you who boast tomorrow's gain, tell me what is your life?
A mist that vanishes at dawn...
All glory be to Christ!"
Then these words from "Only Jesus."
All the Kingdoms built,
All the trophies won,
Will crumble into dust, when it's said and done.
'Cause all that really matters -
Did I live the truth to the ones I love?
Was my life the proof that there is only one, whose name will last forever?
I don't want to leave a legacy
I don't care if they remember me
Only Jesus.
And I, I've only got one life to live,
I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus
It's true - when all is said and done, all that really matters is faithfully following and making certain that His name is remembered, and His story is told.
XXXXXXXXXX
With that it feels a bit odd to let you know that I have a new Advent devotional that was birthed this week through Amazon. If you're interested in a short, little devotional that will help you focus on Jesus during the Christmas season, you can find that book here (both Kindle and Paperback):
Don't Drop Jesus.
