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“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand.” Ephesians 2:10

I used to think living completely for Christ would mean my every day would be marked by countless ministry opportunities. I thought serving overseas or working for a church would mean I could lead others to Christ, plant churches, and even teach God’s Word. While it is still in my heart to do those things, I’ve learned an incredible truth that should manifest itself in the life of every Christian: we do not have to be in the ministry to do ministry.

In Ephesians, Paul writes to the church of Ephesus that “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (2:10). This verse should prompt Christians to want to do good works for Christ (serving, teaching, and loving others), but also remind us that these works can be performed wherever we are.

Although the mundane days rarely feel exciting, we have to remember that they truly are important. There is strength in monotony. The works that feel less than thrilling are often the hard and holy things that are beautiful in the eyes of God.

When you start to feel as if your work isn’t important, remember that as a child of God, you were created for good works. Your life is a living example to those around you, and no task is unimportant.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to serve exactly where I am. Thank you that I don’t have to be hundreds of miles away or even working in a church in order to live completely for you. Let your light shine through me today and onto others who need you most.

Remind yourself often that you are God’s masterpiece and that God has planned out the good he wants you to do today. Ask him to keep your eyes open to the love you can shed abroad all through this day in his Spirit’s strength.

By Mckenna Vietti
Used by Permission

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I am grieved by the tone of today’s rhetoric as I am sure you are.

There is so much toxic public conversation with accusation, shaming, vulgarity, you-name-it. It troubles me. Are we like the frog in the proverbial pot of water on the stove, with the temperature being raised so slowly that we did not jump out when there was still time, before we boil? Can’t we all get back to more civil engagement with each other?

Colossians 3:12-15 As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… And be thankful.”

How often this standard is violated in me and in our fallen world. These simple commands struck deep contrition in my heart as I thought about each characteristic.

Compassion: identifying with the distress of others to relieve their discomfort. God is described as compassionate more than 50 times in the Old Testament. The Gospel writers described Jesus as having compassion 5 times. And in the magnificent portrait of the father of the prodigal son, he was filled with compassion for his son.

Kindness: choosing to be considerate, others-focused, and generous.

Humility: The opposite is pride, which destroys as it makes a person feel more entitled, thus more demanding, more insistent on control and having the last word.

Gentleness: responding so that a person feels safe with you, essential to a relational bond.

Patience: choosing to be willing to wait for gratification or vindication.

Forbearance: choosing patient self-control, restraint, and tolerance; choosing being long-bothered without showing any ill temper. In law, it is refraining from exercising a legal right.

Forgiveness: choosing to give up the delusion that you yourself have nothing to forgive.

Love: choosing to live in 1 Corinthians 13.

Peace: choosing to commit to making peace, not war. Letting Jesus referee in your heart.

They are all about the character of God. He has shown Himself to be this to each of us. We now get to choose to respond to others out of our experience of His indwelling grace.

We all make choices every day. I choose to walk the Colossians 3 way.

By Sylvia Gunter
Used by Permission

Your Mundane Matter

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God’s Chosen People

I am grieved by the tone of today’s rhetoric as I am sure you are.

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Your Mundane Matter

FURTHER READING

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God’s Chosen People

I am grieved by the tone of today’s rhetoric as I am sure you are.

FURTHER READING

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