Sister Tarpley’s Column: Seeing the normal as special

“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31

Jesus never saw the routine activities as just normal. Whether He healed the sick or sat around the fire with the disciples, He did not see one activity as spiritual and the other non-spiritual. Life was lived as a holy service to His Heavenly Father.

Many times we fall prey to a spiritual hierarchy mentality. We believe certain activity is more blessed by God because it is done under a spiritual guise.

We conduct our Christian meetings and conclude one is blessed by God based on attendance. We work to give money to ministry when we fail to recognize the very work we do is ministry.

God’s glory can be expressed in the most common task. Whether washing the dishes or changing diapers or driving to the grocery store. When we begin to assign spiritual value to activities we begin to give greater importance to those activities we deem spiritually higher in the hierarchy.

Remember Philip, he was in the midst of a major crusade when the Holy Spirit abruptly instructed him to stop and go to a desert road.

“Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.”

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road-the desert road-that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians.

This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home he was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it'” Acts 8:26-29.

We see in this story that neither activity was more important than the other. Philip’s job was to live in communion with the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His promptings.

View every activity that you do with an attitude of worship and communion with Jesus.

What ever the activity, do not be filled with pride that you think of yourself above others or mistakenly put yourself upon a pedestal.

Instead be humble and honorable. Be careful of those you partner with, that you are not brought down with those who steal and curse and do contrary to God’s Word.

Do not fear humankind, but place your trust in God for your safety and your guidance.

Believe that God is your guide and your judge. He is the one to seek, He is the One to please and honor. Remain upright in your ways and turn away from anything wicked.