Ministering in Everyday Opportunities. Ministering in everyday opportunities that surround us does not mean that we select our own surroundings— it means being God’s very special choice to be available for use in any of the seemingly random surroundings which He has engineered for us. The very character we exhibit in our present surroundings is an indication of what we will be like in other surroundings.The things Jesus did were the most menial of everyday tasks, and this is an indication that it takes all of God’s power in me to accomplish even the most common tasks in His way. Can I use a towel as He did? Towels, dishes, sandals, and all the other ordinary things in our lives reveal what we are made of more quickly than anything else. It takes God Almighty Incarnate in us to do the most menial duty as it ought to be done.Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15). Notice the kind of people that God brings around you, and you will be humiliated once you realize that this is actually His way of revealing to you the kind of person you have been to Him. Now He says we should exhibit to those around us exactly what He has exhibited to us.

Do you find yourself responding by saying, “Oh, I will do all that once I’m out on the mission field”? Talking in this way is like trying to produce the weapons of war while in the trenches of the battlefield— you will be killed while trying to do it.

We have to go the “second mile” with God (see Matthew 5:41). Yet some of us become worn out in the first ten steps. Then we say, “Well, I’ll just wait until I get closer to the next big crisis in my life.” But if we do not steadily minister in everyday opportunities, we will do nothing when the crisis comes.

__________________________________________________________________

September 11, 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning God and thank you for this devotional. But once again, it seems to me that Oswald Chambers is talking about OUR character, OUR discipline and OUR commitment to demonstrate Christ to others. Then I think…”could I wash someone else’s feet?” Even though my pastor modeled this behavior for me an Easter week years ago, I am probably not the guy thinking about volunteering to wash the feet of the congregation. However, I am quite certain You could and would do this through me Lord, if and when I am surrendered and connected to You.

And God says…”Apart from Me you can do nothing; and you can do all things through Christ Jesus….or in your idiom, Christ Jesus can do all things through you, when you are surrendered, connected, curious and obedient. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will give you the grace, faith and power in the person of the Holy Spirit to do all manner of things you thought impossible. Do not trust your own strength, faith, discipline, or understanding but trust that I can and will do all things through you…including washing feet and when called for, loving the unlovable.“