So often in our Christian walk we settle for doing good enough. We think we're trying to please God, right? We settle for serving God, our church and our families. We think about how we can stop sinning. We focus on what negative things we need to change. Do we ever stop to think what we're doing good at and how we can keep going?
Last week I went on mission to rural Tennessee, after having gone a different missions trip to South Carolina just a week before. I was exhausted. I didn't feel like going on another trip. I was not exited. I woke up at 4:00 A.M. and pulled myself out of bed. As I got ready I realized, " You're gonna go get on a van with some of your best friends, and you're gonna serve God, and it's gonna be great." And that's exactly what happened! God gave the trip such a joy and a fellowship.
We went to the middle of nowhere to serve a tiny church. From the outside it may have looked like we weren't doing anything significant. We painted parts of the church and cleaned. We also put on a sports camp and block party. Six girls came to the block party. Doesn't seem big right? It was huge. The little moments are the moments that change the world. We shared the gospel and God's love and that's huge. The pastor's wife thanked us in tears for encouraging her church. We changed the world.
I learned that there doesn't have to be fireworks for there to be power. Changing the world isn't going to look huge, it's almost always going to be really really small. No one may see it, but God will. Changing the world starts one person at a time.
I also learned that no matter how close you are to God you can always be closer. The youth pastor who led this trip said this quote from C.S. Lewis multiple times, "Further up, further in." The characters in the last novel of the Narnia series had just reached Heaven and instead of saying "Yay were in heaven!" The reaction is how can we be closer?
This should also be our reaction. Yay! I went on a good mission trip, but how can I keep going? When you see God working in you don't just sit there see how you can pursue that. Celebrating is great, but pursuing what you are celebrating is even better.
So you love God? So you've given Him your life? So you want to change the world for Him? You're doing great, kid, keep going. Further up, further in!
"Finally then Brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that just as you recived instructions from us as to how you are to walk and please God(as you actaully do walk) that you excel still more."- 1 Thesolonians 4:1
