Everyday Life

What was Daniel up to when he was brought before the king? Why was he thrown in the lion’s den? What was Joseph doing when Pharaoh called on him to interpret his dreams? And Paul, what was he doing when the jailer became a Christian? Daniel was faithfully praying. Joseph was faithfully serving and waiting. Paul was faithfully suffering and worshiping.
There’s a part of us that would jump at the chance to be a part of the amazing works of God that these men experienced. We see these big, miraculous events in their lives, but we can’t forget Daniel, Joseph, and Paul lived their faith out in every day life. Daniel’s faith was such that he risked everything to continue eating only foods that honored God. Joseph had every right to be angry about his circumstances, but chose to honor God by serving those around him. Paul endured many sufferings in his journeys so he could proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
It’s easy to recognize the greatness of these men’s adventures. To see how God used faithful men in powerful ways. My question is, are God’s works in and through our lives any less great? Do we realize, are we thankful for, do we praise God for what he does in and through our every day lives?
I was blessed to be a part of our youth camps last month and I have to share a story with you. It’s not about a lion’s den or interpreted dreams or a saved jailer. I can’t even point out to you specifically all the lives changed by these faithful deeds. It was our first night at middle school camp and I was in the kitchen talking with the camp manager. He was telling me how impressed he was with our kids and our people. None of them were standing around giving bible lessons — though many could. It was how they were treating each other. How they were dealing with the chaos of getting into a camp that was closed just a day earlier. He commented, “if these are your middle schoolers, I can’t wait to see your high school group.” What he saw was young men and women of faith living ordinary moments in a way that brought God glory. The day may come that some may enter a lions den or interpret dreams or see jailers saved, but God also uses the faithful in amazing ways in their every day lives.