Ordinary People

I read a quote this morning that still lingers with me.
I have pondered the meaning of the words and agree with its truth.
The quote was from a pastor in Toronto.
This pastor is also the author of many books.

I’ve got a feeling that the people who do the most for God are those who are most content to be ordinary. (Tim Challis)

It was as if a neon sign was shining over the words.
It was as if a trumpet announced the importance of the meaning.
Pause.
Contemplate.

Ordinary.
Ordinary is defined as having no special quality or interest; commonplace.
Ordinary is considered unexceptional, plain, or undistinguished.
Ordinary is somewhat inferior or below average, mediocre, customary, usual, or normal.

I couldn’t disagree more.

Most of what we do each day is ordinary.
We get up, we brush our teeth, and we shower and get dressed.
We probably have the same breakfast each day.
We have our daily routines.

We drive on the same roads to get to the same destinations.
We work hard at what we are called to do.
We eat our dinner; we relax.
We go to bed, ready to do the same thing tomorrow.

Ordinary.
Uneventful.
Mundane.
Routine.

Exceptional.
God-honoring.
Important.
Necessary.

Women, especially young mothers, often feel very ordinary.
How can anything they do each day be of any significance?
Changing diapers, feeding babies, and reading books for the thousandth time.
Bandaging a scraped knee, kissing sleepy head, and cuddling with a sick child.

Their day is routine.
Their day has a simple sameness about it.
Their day is spent at home, never expanding beyond their four walls.
That perspective is so terribly wrong.

She, the dispenser of goldfish.
She, the pour-er of juice.
She, the fix-er of broken toys.
She, the repairer of hurt feelings.

She is priceless.

She is the heart of the home.
She is the mood setter.
She is the ambiance designer.
She is the tranquility keeper.

She is invaluable.

What about the man who goes to work each day to support his family?
He goes to the same job for many years in the same town and in the same building.
What he does is daily, predictable; yet vital to the well-being of those he loves.
What he does is worth far more than any paycheck can determine.

How about the teacher who stands before a class every day?
Teaching the same lesson, using the same alphabet, and the same numbers.
Yet, crucial to the education of future generations.
Those letters and numbers will be the great books and the great theories yet to be written.

Ordinary people doing ordinary jobs.
Futile unless done for a greater purpose.
Fruitful when done with the Lord.
Extraordinary when done for the Lord.

Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?” Then the King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:34-43)

Ordinary things done ordinary ways for ordinary people.
Great Kingdom work is done in the ordinary.
God notices what no one else even sees.
God is pleased when the tiniest thing is done for Him.

In reality, the most ordinary task is the most exquisite to God.
The commonplace is very special to His heart.
The mundane is met with Heavenly Fanfare.
The unnoticed is celebrated because He notices it.

There are no ordinary people in God’s Kingdom.
That adjective does not exist in God’s vocabulary.
That adjective is of the world.
You cannot be ordinary when you are created in the image of God.

You are precious.
You are bought with a price.
You are loved.
You are saved by the blood of Jesus.

Nothing ordinary here.
Extraordinary people doing extraordinary things for the Glory of God.
The world may yawn but God applauds.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said, Do something small for God.

Something small.
Something ordinary.
Something mundane.
In His hands and for His Glory, it will be exquisite.

I agree with the quote I read this morning.
I’ve got a feeling that the people who do the most for God are those who are most content to be ordinary.
Content to be ordinary in the world’s eyes because their eyes are on the Kingdom.

Can you hear the Heavenly Fanfare?
It is being played for you, His beloved.

 

2 responses to “Ordinary People”

1. This is so uplifting! It’s mind-boggling to think that our Almighty God notices and appreciates the “ordinary” small things we do for others and for His glory!

   Reply

   • Amen, Sue!
     It is so comforting.
     Gina

     Reply