For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, (I Thessalonians 1:4)
Yes, I know, I’ve mentioned God’s love and God’s choosing us before, but Scripture doesn’t just say it in one place, and I suspect I’m not the only one who needs to be reminded that God loves me and has chosen me once in a while. Maybe, every ten seconds or so.
This morning, I’m thinking of a quote of John Milton’s: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” I also think of the line from the song, “Put me in, Coach! I’m ready to play today. You might be able to relate if you were ever a wallflower or the last person chosen for a team. Milton’s problem was that he was a civil servant in the day of Cromwell. There were people out there, like Cromwell, who was a mover and a shaker. Milton was a writer who felt like he was standing around, doing nothing.
I don’t know if it ever happened, but I can imagine one day some issue comes up, and all of the king’s movers and shakers are out moving and shaking. The king calls on Milton because Milton is the one who is standing, waiting…
There’s another story, one about a little boy who returns from a trip. For several days he walked to the seashore and back. He gives a beautiful shell to his teacher, who protests about what a long trip he had made. He “shouldn’t have” gone to such a great effort to give her a gift. The boy said, “But the trip is part of the gift.” The humdrum, boring, common or garden stuff we do is still service. Sometimes it’s more vital than the big play at the last second that wins the game.
The fact that God chose most of us to be nobodies doesn’t tell us how worthless we are. It tells us how important nobodies are. In fact, God often picks the worst possible person for a job rather than the obvious and “correct” choice. He chooses murders, cowards, traitors, prostitutes, fishermen, tax collectors, liars, adulterers, and despots.
Lord, thank You for choosing us. As we stand and wait, draw our focus to what You are doing. Teach us the ways of Your kingdom in a way that the movers and shakers may never know it because they’re too busy doing.
This morning, I’m thinking of a quote of John Milton’s: “They also serve who only stand and wait.” I also think of the line from the song, “Put me in, Coach! I’m ready to play today. You might be able to relate if you were ever a wallflower or the last person chosen for a team. Milton’s problem was that he was a civil servant in the day of Cromwell. There were people out there, like Cromwell, who was a mover and a shaker. Milton was a writer who felt like he was standing around, doing nothing.
I don’t know if it ever happened, but I can imagine one day some issue comes up, and all of the king’s movers and shakers are out moving and shaking. The king calls on Milton because Milton is the one who is standing, waiting…
There’s another story, one about a little boy who returns from a trip. For several days he walked to the seashore and back. He gives a beautiful shell to his teacher, who protests about what a long trip he had made. He “shouldn’t have” gone to such a great effort to give her a gift. The boy said, “But the trip is part of the gift.” The humdrum, boring, common or garden stuff we do is still service. Sometimes it’s more vital than the big play at the last second that wins the game.
The fact that God chose most of us to be nobodies doesn’t tell us how worthless we are. It tells us how important nobodies are. In fact, God often picks the worst possible person for a job rather than the obvious and “correct” choice. He chooses murders, cowards, traitors, prostitutes, fishermen, tax collectors, liars, adulterers, and despots.
Lord, thank You for choosing us. As we stand and wait, draw our focus to what You are doing. Teach us the ways of Your kingdom in a way that the movers and shakers may never know it because they’re too busy doing.
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