Faithful in the little things

Matthew 25:23

His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.

I want to do great and wonderful things for God and his glory. I want to be the next Amy Carmichael, or Elisabeth Elliot, or Gladys Aylward. I want to be someone that after I have died and gone to be with my Lord and Savior, that people will remember--not because I was anything great, or did amazing things, or made a big name for myself, but because God used me to bring Him glory. Because he saw that I was faithful in the little things, and thus entrusted me with much. And one day I want to hear him say to me "well done faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, and with much. Come and share in my joy." What more could I ask for?
Lately, I have been pondering those terrifying, and difficult questions that I assume everyone at some point in their lives wrestles with--what am I hear for? what am I supposed to do with my life? Am I wasting the time that I have been given? In thinking through these questions, I think that too often I just jump to the biggest thing first. Currently that thought process has been along the lines of quitting school, going to a foreign country and simply serving Christ in whatever way he wants me to there. I have always loved other countries, and I love reading missionary stories, so therefore I conclude that that must be God's will for me right now....right? Wrong. If you read that verse in Matthew again, our Master has pretty clear orders--little stuff, then the bigger responsibilities. Already, I have been given some pretty big responsibilities, but in my mind they seem pretty normal. I work at McDonald's--a mission field right there. I go to a private, religious college--another awesome ministry that I could have. I have a wonderful extended family that I am very close with--again, ministry! And ultimately,  I have the privilege of having a relationship with the God of the universe, because I have trusted that Christ's sacrifice on the cross for me was all sufficient, satisfactory, and complete. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, sin no longer is separating me from God. I have been forgiven, and when God looks at me he only sees Christ's perfect righteous. That blows my mind! I am a terrible sinner, and do not deserve such grace. But I have been granted grace nonetheless...Now, through reading his word, and prayer I can come to know this One who loves me so. I also know from his word how he wants me to live my life, and the "little things" I want to be found faithful in:  God wants us to abide in him (John 15). He wants us to grow up in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). He wants us to renew our minds daily, and not become conformed to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:1-2). He wants us to keep our eyes focused on him (Hebrews 12). Looking at my life this past year or so, I would say I have been slowly straying from this path of following him, living for him, and looking to him. And I know that these things won't instantly change if I left the country and served some impoverished people group in the jungles of Africa, or something amazing like that. In fact, because my relationship with God has not been right, because I have been allowing myself to become more and more like the world, and because I am not abiding in His love, that would be pure craziness to go and do something like that. I'm not going to become instantly holier and more like Christ by changing my location, or my major, or school. I could be in the best Christian college in the world, and still be struggling. It starts with the little decisions--setting aside time to spend with the Lord, memorizing his word, getting to know him like I would any other friend.

As I read another missionary Biography (this one's about Lilias Trotter), I was reminded that many of these missionaries went through a period of growth and service in own country and home. Many didn't start their main ministry until later in their lives. Jesus himself was in his 30s when he began his public ministry, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't just sitting at home twiddling his fingers and waiting for the big day. I'm thinking that to most people it looked like pretty normal, everyday carpentry work that he did. But I'm sure he went about it with a much better attitude then the one that characterizes me. He was just being faithful in the little things God gave him.  I want to be careful that I don't miss that precious time of growth and crucial foundation building. I need to learn to be content where I am at and look to see how I can bring God glory right where he has placed me for that time. I want to be faithful in the little things.

So, what is the point of this blog post?  Did I really find the answers to my questions? I think yes... while it's not all crystal clear and written on a postcard--"Rebecca, stick with school. Take these classes. Major in this. Study abroad here. Take this job. Etc." I know that ultimately God's will for me is to abide in him. Grow in Grace and get to know Him. Don't be conformed to this world. Renew your mind daily. Be faithful with the seemingly little things--like working at McDonald's. Do everything for His glory. I'm trusting that as I make Him a priority this year, and I pray for the rest of my life, I will be walking by faith and finding him more than enough. There is so much to learn..I can't wait to see where the Lord leads me.

All the way my Savior leads me,
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

(All the Way My Savior Leads Me--Fanny Crosby)