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Before Extraordinary There Is Ordinary

“Before Extraordinary There Is Ordinary”

 When we read the Bible and take to heart what God has to reveal to us, it’s easy to look at those characters as more spiritual than the rest of us. It’s also easy to think that God had some type of special dispensation for them and not for us.

 But to look at the Bible as a whole we see that God has a plan for all of us. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV2011) “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This belief also applies to the individuals of the nativity Story.

 Let’s consider Mary and Joseph for a minute. It is widely accepted that Mary was a young woman about to be married. She was a virgin. The angel said this, “Luke 1:28 (NIV2011)
²⁸  The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” I don’t think this statement means that there was something about Mary that can’t be said of other faithful believers or even other faithful young ladies her own age or in her own town. Think about this, is it possible that God knew Mary’s ordinary, day by day faithfulness and chose to ask her for the extraordinary?

Let’s consider Joseph. His plan was to get married, have a family build a house and live the regular, ordinary life But that all changed when an angel came to him to tell him the new plan. After that encounter, Jesus responded in faithfulness. “Matthew 1:24-25 (NIV2011) ²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
²⁵  But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.” And even when it was time to leave and go to Egypt, Joseph was faithful when God told him it was time to go. We see the extraordinary actions of Joseph, but is it possible the extraordinary actions would not have happened if he had not been faithful in the day to day, ordinary life of faithfulness to god?

Also, consider the many ‘One Hit wonders’ in the Bible. So many people used by God in an extraordinary way, ONCE. They lived the day to day, ordinary life of faithfulness – and then God chose to guide them to the extraordinary.

Most people want to leave a legacy. We want to do something that really makes a difference. The message of the Bible is to be faithful to God in the day to day, ordinary faithful life and let God decide when or if we are called to the extraordinary. Luke 16:10 (NIV2011) ¹⁰ “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…”

The following quote from DL Moody really sums things up: “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

 Don’t worry about being extraordinary for God – life the faithful, day to day life of a disciple and let God worry about the extraordinary.

 “Before Extraordinary There Is Ordinary”

 By: Dr John Heading,  Beavercreek Baptist Church

When Life Takes Over

“When Life Takes Over” February 16, 2017

It’s hard to believe its February 16, 2017. I had committed in 2017 to post two days every week and here it is roughly 6 weeks since I posted last. At first I thought, I’m really bad at this blogging thing. Then I thought, maybe I don’t have anything to say. Then I realized, “Life Has Taken Over”.

“Life Has Taken Over”: My wife’s cancer treatments, my anemia & kidney stones, a special needs child, a daughter who is a senior in college, the dog is on seizure meds now, and preparing to preach and teach every week. It sounds like whining, but it really isn’t intended to be. It’s a statement of fact. “Life Has Taken Over”. Ever sit in church on Sunday and say, “I’ll make this week count for Jesus!” only to wake up and realize it’s Friday and wonder where the week went?

What do you do when “Life takes over”?

1. Let urgency run you. If we are not mindful we will not have a life, but life will take over. Control is surrendered to the events and urgencies of the day. We forsake the important for the squeaky wheel.
2. Just give up! How easy is to become overwhelmed and just give up? No fuss, no muss. Park myself in my chair, grab the remote, and let life have its way.

OR

3. Choose to make a Choice. Taking control doesn’t happen by accident. We have to make a decision to take control. Get yourself on a calendar and prioritize those things that are important. The key here is you have to say NO to those momentary distractions to focus on completing a task that really needs to get done. Decide to make a choice!
4. Take captive your thoughts. Paul teaches us this. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
   ^“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ”. Don’t let the Thought Train take you down a track you don’t want to go.
5. Trust the Lord. Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)
   “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” When “Life Takes Over” we must trust the Lord and stop trying to figure it all out. Our understanding of our life circumstances may not be as true as you think they are. More than that, what we think we should do in response to those circumstances may not be as right as we think. Our ways are not God’s ways, so why would we trust our thinking over God’s?
6. Keep your walk with the Lord going. I was taught to never change directions in a storm because now you really don’t know where you are going. Tired? Weary? Don’t think anyone cares? Stopping your faithfulness will not get you where you need to be. Get up, go to church. Get to your small group. If you can’t read your Bible today, listen to Christian music, listen to an online Bible reader, watch a sermon online from your pastor, DO SOMETHING to stay in walk with the Lord.

 What do you do when “Life Takes Over”?

As Moses spoke to Israel at the passing of leadership to Joshua he spoke from the Lord these words, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)  

“He will not leave us or forsake us.” So don’t you give up! Make a choice to live a life that directs attention to the Lord. Don’t let Life Take Over.