Still worthwhile?

For a long time I hoped to one day have the opportunity to serve God in some kind of amazing children's ministry; like running an orphanage abroad or ... something (!) I was very inspired by the South African friend of a friend I met a few years ago who became a Christian while working over here & then on return to her country ended up looking after 50 little Aids orphans in a Day Centre - chosen as the poorest/most deprived from an outreach by the church she was in. It was this that, partly, led me to embark on my ill-fated teacher training, in order to gain more experience. (Which I did; several kinds!)


In recent years though, I have realised how 'amazingly' God can be served in the church; there are some great examples in my previous church in Heathfield where I was led by God to get more involved as my energy & health improved. This kind of 'local outreach' is the remit of every Christian.

But it seems so relatively 'mundane' ... thinking about this made me realise that one of the byproducts of serving somewhere more as a missionary type role is that the more obviously sacrifical nature of that has it's own kind of glory - maybe only in the eyes of the Christian community, but there none-the-less. Pick up a copy of any book by a Christian missionary, with maybe a photo of them reaching out lovingly to some clearly & dramatically impoverished/traumatised child...it just feels like what that person is doing is SO much more worthwhile than what I can do here.

Now this maybe raises questions about the work of the church in this country, in community, as - I am finding more & more through my job - how much need there is in this country/& the county where I live. But ... there is no doubt that God seems more glorified somehow by those who give up civilisation as they know it, familiar culture; friends & family - maybe sanitation & any kind of varied diet (in extreme cases) ...

... It is amazing what people sacrifice and do when they are called by God in this way; although for every Jackie Pullinger (for example) whose work becomes known worldwide, there must be hundred of others whose work doesn't, but who have also given up everything to go & serve.

And it's hard work, daily slog - nothing glamerous or' romantic' in the reality of it.

In 'Chasing the Dragon' Jackie talks of how she spent all night sitting with people as they came off hard drugs while days were spent queueing up in the courts on their behalf; snatching sleep when she could. Her whole life & every day was lived out for God. And without romanticising that, it just seems so worthwhile, so living out faith, so glorifying to God.

But to be Jesus' representative where we are is the calling of all who haven't been led by God in that way. And when I think of how people live out their faith in their society around me God is glorified just as much. And who knows how he is glorified in the heavens by that committed, constant service?

I've been inspired by people with the gift of hospitality; those who cook for or visit ill/lonely/house-bound people (my mother is really good at this - listening to the lonely or disabled; I really admire that) or praying with people & interceeding, maybe for hours, for people (something else I really admire!) Men of God who father those who need that, thus revealing God's father heart for his children ...And just because it might be perceived as 'ordinary' or 'day to day' by us doesn't mean it is in God's eyes.

This is how Paul lived after all; working hard morning to night to preach in the afternoon (not to mention from prison ... wherever he was.)

But - most of all - when these things are done out of love - love for God and for the people we serve - it is 'a pleasing aroma to God'

To serve God in the local church/where we are/our community can throws us on Jesus as well; only perhaps more pro-actively than reactively!

Radical Womanhood site author, in one blog, relates any kind of service to God to worship of Him. She says our "greatest priority and purpose is to be a worshiper of God. But our worship should be expressed in all of life, so even mundane tasks can be done for the glory of God.......Check out the epitome of feminine wisdom, the Proverbs 31 woman—she did outreach, she ran a business (profitably!), she was hospitable, she was a homemaker and mother, and her godly character ensured that her husband was respected in the gates (meaning, in community leadership)."

Really, when it comes down to it - not only can I be tremendously grateful to God that He can use me where I am; I should be thanking Him for the privilege of serving Him and being involved in His greater purposes. And, not only does He use our giftings and enable it to be a positive experience; but it gives us fulfilment; our life can have more meaning when we serve Him wherever we are.

Praise God that He is glorified in the heavens when weserve him out of obedience and love; wherever we are.