Would You Do Something Great?

 

I needed a laugh this past week and thought I would share some of it with you from an article by an anonymous mother of five titled, “Things I’ve Learned From My Children.” * There is no such thing as child-proofing your house. * A 4-year-old’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant. * If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing pound puppy underwear and a superman cape. * It is strong enough, however, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room. * Baseballs make marks on ceilings. * You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. * When using the ceiling fan as a bat you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. * A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way. * The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn’t stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan. * If you use a waterbed as home plate while wearing baseball shoes, it does not leak - it explodes. There’s lots more laughs – Google it!

[Colossians 4:2-6] Given the opportunity, what would you do for God? I feel certain that we have all considered it. What would be the limits? If God called upon you to do so, would you build an ark? Would you leave your homeland? Would you lead His people to freedom? Would you stand down giants, lions, and fiery furnaces? Would you be willing to do what Josiah did? Paul? Peter? Whose task would you be willing to take on if you could? How about this: let’s take on our own tasks! Naaman considered himself a great man and many would have agreed. But Naaman had a problem – one of the worst he could have had – he had leprosy – a virtually incurable disease. However, he desired to be healed and was willing to do anything to be cleansed. Well, almost anything. He was advised to approach a great prophet of God (2 Kings 5:1-8). Initially he was put-off by the fact that Elisha wouldn’t meet with him directly (vs. 9-11). After all, he was a great man and a lowly prophet should cater to him. He was more put off by the “prescription” offered by the prophet – to dip seven times in the nasty Jordon River (vs.12). He felt he did not receive the respect a man of his position should receive and he noted that there were much nicer rivers back home he could use. But reason came from his lowly servants who asked, “If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it?” Well, of course he would. Naaman went to the prophet prepared to do something great to be cleansed. His problem was that he didn’t realize who really does the great things in life. Many great things begin as seemingly ordinary things. When Andrew went to tell his brother, Peter, that he had found the Messiah (John 1:35-42) he had no idea of who Peter would become because of it. He was simply doing what we would think any loving brother would do. When Tabitha made garments for her less fortunate neighbors (Acts 9:36-39) it never occurred to her that her kindness would forever be memorialized in scripture. She was just doing what she knew to do. If Andrew or Tabitha had been told to do something great would they have done it? In actuality, they did! Without thinking, they did the great things they were called upon to do. So, how about you: “…if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you have not done it?” If you want to accomplish great things you must be willing to do what are considered, ordinary things, things that may seem useless at the time. Remember, Jesus declared that true greatness is not found in self-exaltation. It is found in service to others (Mark 10:42). Let’s strive to do the great things that God has for us to do. You may think it a useless thing to do, but your vote does count! Go! VOTE!