The Importance of the Ordinary

I am easily distracted from the things that matter. During busy days, it’s natural to get wrapped up in the ‘here and now.’ Rushing from work to classes to meetings and Bible studies, with homework filling in the gaps, I can go a full day focused on those things alone. Recently, though, I read these verses:

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” -Hebrews 12:26-29

There will be a day when our jobs, homes, schoolwork, meals, cars, and towns will be wiped out. The moment God decides to usher in eternity, all these ‘shakable’ things will crumble. Interestingly enough, these are the very things we invest most of ourselves into. At the basic level of time, they compose our lives.

However, only what cannot be shaken will stick around for the rest of the show: for eternity. And this is to be our focus. Be careful here, though. This does not mean that our daily lives in this world do not matter, and it certainly does not mean that they are bad or evil.

It actually points to a beautiful truth: that we can transform the shakable with the unshakable. By God’s grace, our jobs, appointments, meals, and drives to work—things that don’t seem to matter—can hold eternal weight.

“You may feel that the only time God is pleased with you is when you’re doing “spiritual” activities. . . Actually, God enjoys watching every detail of your life, whether you are working, playing, resting, or eating. He doesn’t miss a single move you make.” -The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren

Time and time again, God shows up in the unspiritual. He goes before us and behind us and promises to never leave us: which, yes, stays true even during monotonous, regular-life days! He is not bored the way we are with our schedules and routines.

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139:1-7

This both shocks and humbles me: that God himself delights in following along with what I do every day.

He enjoys the beauty of human life itself, but he also sees potential in it that we often miss. Because we have souls that are unshakable and eternal, everything we do has the potential to affect someone else’s unshakable soul. Only from God’s vantage point in heaven can the full effect of this be seen.

So how do we bring this all together? How do we take hold of the fact that God delights in our lives, and maximize the unshakable? This quote from Rick Warren is helpful: “How is it possible to do everything to the glory of God? By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with him while you do it.”

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men -Colossians 3:23, ESV

Unshakable fruit is produced all throughout your day when you focus on glorifying God. It happens when you prepare a meal with love and share it with your family. It happens when you’re kind to a difficult coworker. It happens when you write an essay or do a math assignment to the best of your ability. It happens when you sing along to worship songs on the way to work. And it certainly happens when you pray and spend time with our Lord. Through all these everyday things, he is crafting and perfecting something unshakable in you and the people your life reaches.
 
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Next week’s post will look at how continual prayer plays into this process! It’s a focus that can’t be replaced, but there is too much to say about it to be included in this single post. Have a great week!