You’ve read all about Paul. He was chased, yelled at, beaten, imprisoned, and left for dead.
You’ve read stories about missionaries who give their lives to serve in hostile countries and martyrs who actually give over their physical lives for the sake of Christ.
And what do you have? A suburban life where your most difficult trial is who you’re going to vote for on American Idol.
Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But do you ever feel that way? Like your life isn’t dynamic because you’re in a very ordinary place doing very ordinary things?
Tough girl, God has called you to shine the light of Christ. And where you’re at right now may be the hardest place of all. It isn’t big or dramatic. It isn’t far away and fantastic. It’s here. It’s now. It’s…normal. And making conscious choices day in and day out to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary…well, let’s just say that’s pretty extraordinary in and of itself.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” – Colossians 3:23 (I have this verse memorized because I know a totally cheesy little jingle. Don’t judge me.)
When you’re at school, are you working heartily for the Lord? When you’re bored in class? When you’re at lunch and there are people sitting by themselves? When you see a cute guy walk by and what you say? When you’re having a fight with a friend?
When you’re at home, are you working heartily for the Lord? In the way you take care of your room in the house that your parents pay for? When they ask you to do chores? When you make decisions whether to hang out with your friends or your family? In the way that you talk to your mom, dad, sisters, and brothers?
When you’re at church, are you working heartily for the Lord? In how you pay attention to who is taking? In the way you participate in games and other activities? In how you volunteer your time? In the way you talk to both friends and strangers?
Don’t think you have to wait to shine the light of Christ. Don’t fall into the trap of believing you need to be in an extraordinary place doing extraordinary things. Shine right now, where you are at. God has you where you are for a reason. So shine…and shine well.
Question: When in your day to day life do you find it the hardest to shine the light of Christ? What can you do to shine brighter?
Crystal Mazzuca
March 5th, 2012 at 5:11 pm
This is so true. But it is so easy to forget that where you are is where you need to live for Jesus. Not only when you are on the other side of the world on a mission trip. It has been really difficult for me to transition back into the normality of live here in America after spending time seeing people with so much less than me. Its hard to look at the easy life i lead here and see that what i am doing here is just as important as what i did there.
March 5th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I know it’s hard! In a place like Africa where the need is so obvious, shining for Jesus seems so much…brighter. But you’re so right about where you are at RIGHT NOW is where you’re called to shine. Praying for you, Taylor, that you will find new and encouraging ways to shine His light and love in your day to day life.