Luke 1:38 (WEB)
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.”
Henry Varley is credited with saying to D. L. Moody the now famous words, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man wholly consecrated to Him.” I would like to suggest that the world has seen what God can do through a man or woman fully consecrated to God. We just haven’t noticed it, because we’ve been looking for the wrong things.
When we image what the world might see when any man or woman is fully consecrated to God, don’t we often think of the big, dramatic things that God could do through their work? We picture large meetings, huge outreach ministries, and big productions reaching great numbers of people. And perhaps we do need to be prompted to step out of our complacency and trust God for big things.
But I find it interesting that there is another quote, this one by Moody, which is not often repeated. He said, “There are many of us who are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” And I think there is a lesson in that statement, as well.
In Luke chapters 1 and 2, we read the stories of two women who were fully consecrated to God. One is Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and the other is Mary, the mother of Jesus. Now, you might be thinking, “Sure! You couldn’t mention any other women who have done greater or bigger things for God!” And certainly, their sons changed the world!
But have you ever stopped to think about what these mother’s job descriptions were? Elizabeth and Mary did some pretty ordinary work, day in and day out, year after year. Their acts of service for God were things like cooking meals, hauling water from a well, cleaning a home, and washing clothes. They rocked their children to sleep, gave hugs and kisses, said prayers, sang songs and told stories. What made these chores special was the person for whom they did them.
God may call you or I to do some amazing things in our world. But for most of us, our average day is filled with some very ordinary work. We probably don’t do anything glamorous or amazing most days that would be noticed by many people. But every task we do can be offered as an act of service to God. And as we place these tasks and our lives in the hands of God, our ordinary becomes extraordinary in the plan of God.
Now, these ordinary tasks won’t look any different. They will still be the same usual chores. But maybe the way we do these tasks and the attitude with which we do them will change. And that just might change us and the people around us.
We do have a choice in how we do our work. We can do it complaining and making others miserable, just doing enough to get by. Or we can do it as a gift of service to God, working not just to the best of our ability, but also honestly and with integrity. And if our tasks involve other people, we should try to remember to do them in love. I don’t know about you, but it is all too easy for me to get caught up in getting through my “To Do List,” all the while running rough-shod over the people I am doing it for. I need to remind myself of 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done with love.” (NKJV)
Mary and Elizabeth were two amazing women who made themselves available to serve God in whatever way He asked. And by doing their work for Him, not only were they blessed, but so was the rest of the world. What is God calling you to do today? Big or small, noticed or unnoticed, do it for God.
Colossians 3:17 (WEB)
Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture marked WEB is taken from the World English Bible. Public Domain.
Featured image of Mary is by www.LumoProject.com