Great and Amazing Things

It is not unusual to hear someone say “Dream big!” Or “You are destined to do great things!” (Christians will add “for God” to that sentence.)

Are we actually destined to dream big and do great things (for God)?

I don’t think so. Let me explain why.

It’s just a fact that not everyone will be the world’s definition of “great” or “amazing”. It’s just not how God designed humanity.

When we look at the book of I Kings, we read of Elijah and his awesome miracles. But we also see a nameless widow who took him in when she had little food left (I Kings 17) and we read of the 7000 that were still faithfully following God and refusing to worship Baal (I Kings 19:18) although we know nothing about them at all. Elijah thought he was all alone but there were still 7000 faithful followers. We don’t even know their names.

We can’t all be Elijahs.

When we look at the life of Apostle Paul, we read of his amazing testimony and life. But think of all those who supported him as he did what he was called to do. He lists so many throughout the scriptures. Onesimus. Tychicus. The saints of Caesar’s household. Eubulus. Purden. Linus. Claudia. Priscilla. Aquila. Trophimus. So many others that I won’t take the time to list.

We know very little about these saints. What we do know is that God had a job for them to do and they were faithfully doing it. The job didn’t make them stand out and it probably wasn’t very exciting most days. Most of them were simply living a normal average life in the incredible light of the Gospel.

We can’t all be Pauls.

I’d surmise that most of us are servants of the Lord by quietly doing what He has set before us each day. Which is exactly what we are called to do.

Titus 2 gives the very concise callings of the average person who follows God, breaking it down between older men and younger men, as well as older women and younger women.

Paul reminds us of our calling as husbands, wives, children, employees, citizens, church leaders, and church members throughout the epistles.

Most people are not called to greatness. And, while some will do great and amazing things for God (and that will be God’s plan for them), should that be our life’s goal?

Greatness comes with an astounding amount of responsibility and accountability. It comes with temptations to compromise and to go astray from biblical principles.

Personally, I don’t want it. I am quite content to be an average person serving the Lord right where He has me.

But that wasn’t always the case. There was a time I wanted to “make it big”. Until that one day (ordained by the Lord, I am sure) when I heard a pastor say something like this: “I don’t ever market myself. I let God take care of the growth. My job is just to stay faithful.”

Hearing this changed my whole view on this blog and what it would accomplish. Whoever it has encouraged in the past or is encouraging today is of the Lord. All glory goes to Him.

Let’s think for a moment where God has us right now. Today. Many of us are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, sons, daughters, uncles, and aunts. We have been given a family to serve. Are we serving them?

We are church members and our churches need teachers and prayer warriors and kitchen helpers and those who will serve and support their widows. How are we helping?

And many of us are employees, some of us are business owners…how do we serve the Lord best in this role?

God gives us opportunities for service and ministry in our communities. Are we taking them?

There is so much we can do right where we are today. Faithfulness is often without fanfare or praise. And that’s okay. It just doesn’t matter in the Lord’s eyes.

May we all simply do what God sets before us and do it with joy. May we be found the faithful servants of the Lord we love.

Perhaps, when all things are considered, this really is the definition of “great” and “amazing” in the Lord’s eyes.