Ordinary to Extraordinary
Abba uses ordinary things to get us where we need to be but if we aren’t careful, we can miss out on extraordinary moments. We have many examples in scripture of people who were about their daily lives when they encountered Jesus. For instance, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus, the Roman soldier with a sick servant and many others. We also have examples of those who missed the life changing encounter with Jesus like Martha. She was so busy and honestly didn’t value the friendship she had available with Jesus. What about the ten lepers who encounter Jesus in Luke 17? Ten lepers passed by Jesus asking from a distance to be healed. Jesus gives them instructions to go be examined by the priests. As they walked away, they were healed of leprosy. One of them ran back to Jesus to honor Him by falling down at his feet thanking him over and over. The point in this parable is they all left their houses that day to do what they normally did but this day they encountered Jesus. They asked for healing and received it but one realized the significance of what happened and gave honor. By doing so he received even more of the Kingdom of Yahweh. He received healing for his heart, not just his skin.
How do you wake up each day? When you walk out the door to go to work, the store, or dinner what are you anticipating? We must realize and remember every moment is ordained by Abba to experience Him. When you anticipate meeting Him in every moment you will. Are you looking for Jesus in the conversations with your co-workers, your students at school, your children at home, your friends or family members?
It is so important to guard your heart. “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
If you watch the news and it tells you how bad the world is or if you follow ministries with an end of the world vision, guess what you will see when you look at the world? What you behold you become. This is why we must behold Jesus. We must have hope to see Him in everyday life. He brought hope, life and light.
Be careful you don’t miss the most valuable parts of your day. Let’s be like the one man in Luke 17 where we honor every encounter throughout our day. How well we honor the Kingdom determines how much we get to experience. This life isn’t just about us; it’s about representing Him well in the world around us. We must be people of hope. Pastor Tim shared an acronym on Sunday for HOPE- Honoring Our Presence Encounter. When we honor the encounter with His presence we see with eyes of hope. We must be people who can see into someone’s life and bring hope to them. I will quote Pastor Tim here, “You have to have hope to see how people were designed to be when they were first formed by the King.” This is a powerful statement. When we honor the encounters we have with Him, we become people of hope where the Lord can give us the vision of who He designed someone to be when He formed them. This is an incredible opportunity. This is how we change the world. If not us, then our children.
Anything of value will cost you something. The value of the future of this world, the value of the commission of Jesus must cause us to desire His plans over our own. As you embark on your day be intentional about your steps. Ask the Holy Spirit to not let you miss Him in any given moment. He loves you and wants to display His love to you, and through you.
