“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2
Do you ever feel like you are being held captive by the mundane of daily life? Maybe you are stuck at a desk all day, strapped into a driver seat of a minivan that your children have mistaken as a taxi cab, or maybe you even feel like a prisoner in your own home as you juggle sick kids, house cleaning, and a to-do list the size of a phone book, so the call to “Go, and make disciples of all nations” seems like the last thing on your list of lifetime accomplishments.
When the Holy Spirit ignites a passion in our hearts to share the gospel, it permeates into the depths of our bones, and it’s hard to contain the desire to GO! There’s an eagerness to get out there and do great things for God, but what do we do when life’s circumstances hold us captive in the daily mundane where it seems unlikely that we are making even the slightest difference?
Did you know that Paul, one of the most influential figures of the Christian faith, who wrote over one third of the New Testament, wrote many of his letters from prison? In fact, for two whole years, Paul was under house arrest, but he continued to preach the gospel without ever leaving his home, and he did so without hindrance! (Acts 28:30-31) He didn’t let his current circumstances hinder the fact that God had called him. God had a purpose for Paul’s life, and Paul wasn’t about to let life get in the way of his purpose.
What if we, like Paul, could see past today’s circumstances, and answer the call on our lives right here in the midst of our everyday mundane?
Paul said, “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love…” (Philippians 1:15-16).
In Colossians he writes about how we ought to walk as the holy and dearly loved of God, and then He brings it all back to love, “And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)
Love is our calling. It’s not just about going out and preaching to big crowds, reaching multitudes with a carefully worded message. It’s about seeing the ones right in front of us, and loving them. That’s what Jesus did. Jesus didn’t see crowds. He saw the ones in front of Him, and He loved them.
Paul goes on in Colossians 3:16-17 with further instruction to “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly… and whatever you do, whether in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” As we seek to make a difference in our immediate spheres of influence, loving the ones God has placed in front of us, we let His message dwell in our hearts, doing our best to love like He did. And we do it all in His name.
So maybe you feel like you are being held captive at this point in your life, unable to “Go” like you first envisioned, but that doesn’t mean God can’t use you right where He has you. You can share the gospel of Christ without ever leaving your home.
If you are stuck at a desk all day in an office cubical, look up from your screen. Perhaps there is a coworker who needs to see the love of Jesus today.
If your whole day is dictated by the kids’ schedules—from band practice to the soccer field to piano recitals—let the message of Christ dwell in that minivan richly, and maybe one of your child’s friends will encounter Jesus like they never have before.
Maybe you are at home buried beneath an impossible load of daily chores and responsibilities, with whining toddlers pulling on you and everyone demanding a piece of you. Look up from that heap of responsibility, and respond to those around you with love.
Love. Love is your calling, and love goes a long way.
