Usually when I hear the phrase “advancing the kingdom” I think of people casting out demons, amazing healings, preaching to the lost, or feeding the hungry. But through these two weeks in Thailand, I have come to realize that “advancing the kingdom” means so much more than that. For my first two weeks of ministry, I sanded chairs. I also sanded some chairs, did a little painting and then I sanded some more chairs. While I was slaving away at the wood and coughing up sawdust I started to wonder to myself if what I was doing was the Lord’s will. I thought about it some more that night and even questioned myself why I came on this trip if I am just going to be doing someone else’s chores.
After a while, I picked up my bible and the Lord game me the verses Colossians 3:23-24. It says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the master you are serving is Christ.” These verses hit me harder than I could have imagined. I was so convicted of what I thought was serving the Lord and how I thought he was pleased. That day he taught me to work for him and not to worry about what it is or what it might cost me. Whatever situation I am in, is exactly where he wants me to be. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” These two weeks of manual labor have brought me to see that every little thing I do for the Glory of Jesus Christ is God’s will. Whether that be casting out demons, or sanding chairs.
