Does your to-do list for tomorrow include such items as:
- Send birthday, get-well, or encouragement cards?
- Attend a meeting or rehearsal at church?
- Prepare for teaching a Bible study or Sunday School lesson?
- Pick up your husband’s prescription?
- Prepare for dinner guests?
Our days are often filled with small deeds. We tend to think they’re insignificant and therefore, so are we.
But that negative evaluation is not from God!
“Who despises the day of small things?” he spoke to Zechariah (4:10).
In fact, evidence indicates that God loves to take small, seemingly insignificant actions, and use them in creative, powerful ways:
- A piece of wood thrown into bitter water turned it sweet (Exodus 15:25).
- A cord hung from a window saved a family from destruction (Joshua 2:17-21).
- An army of 300 defeated a powerful enemy, just by blowing trumpets and breaking clay jars to expose torchlight (Judges 7).
- A dab of mud applied to a man’s blind eyes restored his sight (John 9).
- Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons became healing agents as they were laid upon the sick ((Acts 19:12).
It doesn’t matter that we’re not famous, wealthy, intellectual, or strong, because it is “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,'” says the Lord Almighty” (Zechariah 4:6).
Might = strength, resources, and ability. If that describes you, wonderful! But those blessings alone will not guarantee significance.
Power = persistence, resolve, and consistency. Again, if you are able to power through with effort and efficiency to accomplish much, terrific! But what’s truly important is if the effort is achieving God’s purpose.
Granted, God has given us talents and gifts, opportunities and choices. We must be prayerful and wise in the ways we use them.
John Wesley advised:
(“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”)
Just remember: apart from the Lord Almighty, we accomplish nothing worthwhile (John 15:5).
On the other hand, little is much–IF God is in it.
He rejoices in what is right, you see, not necessarily in what is big.
So, when you feel like a nobody who’s accomplishing nothing, be mindful of this:
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem small and little known?
It is great if God is in it
And He’ll not forget His own.
–Kitty Suffield
(Art & photo credits: www.whattoexpect.com; http://www.auyouth.com; http://www.kokabella.com.)
From the Inside Out 