whatever you do...

Oh, how I love this verse!

So often we can get caught up in the "glamour" of serving the Lord by going to other countries to preach the gospel.  By doing "big time missions" to serve God. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with serving God in those areas- but I feel that we may put too much emphasis on them and not enough emphasis on serving God in the little things.

Years and years ago when my dad was very young, a coworker was encouraging him in the faith.  I don't remember exactly what happened but I believe that the coworker was being downgraded in his job- his attitude was joyful anyway!  My dad asked him why and he replied, "If all I'm doing is sweeping streets, I'm going to sweep those streets for Jesus."  My dad now carries and reflects that in all that he does- and he is teaching us now.

I once heard a talk by Louie Giglio about careers regarding this.  His proposal was whatever career you choose- you do it to the very best of your ability so that when people see your work they wonder why it is done with such excellence- why it shines so much brighter than the world's.  I would encourage you in this whole-heartedly.  

But what I really want to encourage you in is applying that right now.  Meaning, when you have a chore to do- don't just get by- get it done to the glory of God- for it is the Lord Christ whom you serve!  For me, every dish that I wash, every toilet I clean, every surface I dust, every floor that I vacuum, every piece of laundry that I fold, let it reflect my love for Jesus and my desire to serve Him.  Let when I practice my guitar or my trombone the sound flow from my lips or my hands- out of love for my Savior- not because I have to.  When I'm making a meal for my family let it be a marked difference in the loving way that it is planned and prepared than that of someone who is not serving the Lord.  Because it's not for me, it's not even for my family, it's for Jesus that I do my work with excellence.

Do you have work that the Lord has set before you that you have been doing with the mind of pleasing men instead of pleasing God? I would encourage you to turn your eyes up, serve Jesus in everything you do {Queue Steven Curtis Chapman song}.  Show the world that Christians aren't mediocre in anything. Make a mark on the world so that they know, "This job was done for Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!" and they will either shrink away from it in disgust, or be drawn to it to be saved- this is your mission field.  By the world, it can be anyone unsaved- even down to your younger (or older) brothers and sisters that see you all the time doing the little things...

Another thing, keep this in mind, "'Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'" {Matthew 25:23b}

Have a fabulous day, my friends!