When you think of a mission trip, what do you think of? Sports ministry, and kicking around a soccer ball with a group of children? Evangelism, and sharing the gospel on street corners? Prayer, and interceding for a broken community? Construction work, and getting your hands dirty? That’s what I think of too, and although I have had the opportunity to do some of those things, my ministry for this month has been…desk work. I really didn’t consider office work a ministry at first, but after spending the last couple of weeks in the office, I do. Hope Church wouldn’t be able to function, not one of their ministries would exist, and no one would be reached through the church if it weren’t for people in the office keeping everything straight. So now I know that what seems like a small, unimpactful job at first glance is actually one of the most important ones.
Sometimes as Christians, I think we chase a “Holy Spirit high”. We want to do the “BIG” things for the sake of Jesus’ name, because of the way it makes us feel. When we worship, we want to feel the goosebumps and get all the prophetic words. What about when He calls us to do the things no one will ever see, the things no one is going to blog about or preach on? Are you going to do those things, the things that feel ordinary, and easy? If we aren’t willing to do the easy things, why do we think we will be willing to do the hard things? What about when you are worshiping and you feel nothing, when you aren’t getting goosebumps, or hearing the Father’s voice? Are you going to keep pressing in to worship or get distracted and start thinking about your crazy long to-do list? I’ll be honest, that’s been me, but we aren’t following Christ because of the things He gives us, including His presence. We should be following Christ because He is good and is worthy. If we don’t see another miracle, never feel Him move again, or never get called to do something “big” for the sake of the gospel, would we still follow Him? Or, will we be chasing the next feeling or high?
I thought The Race was going to be some crazy, big, exciting, adventure that was going to change me. It is all of those things, and it is going to change me, but only because God’s a part of it. Without God, it wouldn’t be as big, or as crazy, or as exciting, or as hard, or as life-changing. The reason The Race is all of those things is because God works in the details of our lives not just the monument life moments. Yes, I will have “mountain-top” moments this year seeing the world and adventuring. But, God’s mountain-top moments are way better. The moments that you get to after hard work you’ve done in secret, perfecting the details. After more praying than talking, after giving in ministry until you have nothing left to give, and after God has stretched you farther than you thought you could ever go, after all the little things have been tended to, that’s when true change will come.
Don’t despise small beginnings. The little things God does in us and in our lives are always the coolest because they show how much He cares about the little things.
