Seize the day in the ordinary
You could be forgiven for thinking that unless you are not living a radical, crazy life of the adventurous disciple of Jesus, then you are not really a disciple at all. I have to confess to feelings of inadequacy when I hear stories, read blogs/books, see twitter and facebook updates of people who boast of moving in the miraculous, delivering life changing prophetic words for random people in the supermarket queue and see multitudes respond the moment they open the bible and speak the name of Jesus all before 10 o’clock on a Sunday morning! Now I’m clearly exaggerating a bit but you know what I’m on about don’t you…
I admire the guys that do crazy things in following Jesus, I really do; but what about the rest of us who are trying to juggle work, family, church, life! If every one of us was do the crazy radical life then there wouldn’t be any ‘normal’ (if there is such a thing) blokes to do the ordinary stuff of life that most of us experience. Don’t get me wrong I like adventure, I like trying new things and I’m not afraid to take the opportunities that present themselves but they don’t happen everyday and nor do I want them too.
What does happen everyday is the chance to show grace, love, humility, kindness to the people we meet! You may have dreams of preaching to thousands but if you don’t take the opportunity of the individual before you then there is something wrong there. For most of us we will never stand before thousand and most wouldn’t want to more to the point! Yet, how much more effective an army of men grabbing simple everyday opportunities to be like Jesus to people right before us every day!
You may need to do something radical for Jesus, great! Seize the day, go for it. May be you will never do something radical or dangerous, but the opportunity for you today is to demonstrate the same kindness that God has demonstrated to you; to your wife, girlfriend, children, friends, colleagues, pastor, etc. Everyday we have small opportunities to make a big difference in someone else’s world. The key to doing so is to take our eyes off ourselves and look for the opportunities that are right before us.
As a chaplain to the local police I get to see behind the scenes of how things work. It isn’t all blue lights and foot chases! Frontline police officers couldn’t do their job correctly if they didn’t have time doing paper work; they certainly couldn’t do their job without those who always work behind the desk!
My point is we need ‘radical Rodney’s’ and ‘stable Stanley’s’! If an opportunity presents itself do do something for Jesus that you have never done before, grab it and do it to the glory of God; even if you fail spectacularly, at least you can say you gave it ago! However, don’t feel guilty for doing the ordinary well to the glory of God.
Seize the day in the ordinary as well as the radical.
Iain Hesketh – Enable Team
Iain is the senior minister at West Bromwich Community Church. You can follow Iain on Twitter.