6. THE PURPOSE OF NOW

​THIS SERIES: CELEBRATE THE PRESENT

We are called to live intentionally in the present, to celebrate and make the most of now, to reject the temptation to think that life will start sometime in the future … when I get a new job… when I get married… when we move… when we have children … when they leave home… when we retire, and so on.

So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps.
Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does.
Instead, walk as the wise! 
Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. 
So understand and be confident in God’s will, and don’t live thoughtlessly.
[Ephesians 5:15-17, The Voice]

To celebrate the present though, made up as it often is with the mundane stuff of life, we have to see past the dull routine to the purposes of God.
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He has stated quite clearly that there is a ‘time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… and that He has made everything beautiful in its time.’ [Ecclesiastes 3:1,11]
Finding the beauty in each moment is the challenge. And for that we need to adjust our perspective.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
[Ephesians 2:10]

Our Heavenly Father has a multitude of ‘good works’ prepared for us; works that are specific to us, to our particular gifts and abilities; works that will delight and bless us, works that will bring His Kingdom to a needy world. And many of these works are to be done not through great crusades or special ministries, but at the supermarket or the school gates, cooking the evening meal, or filing papers.

Not only does He want to fill each moment with His presence (see second post in this series), He wants us to partner with Him in bringing eternity into the present. Heaven is the realm of eternity, and it is our commission to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.

Whatever we do, whether it is walking the dog, or chauffeuring clients, we do it as ambassadors of another kingdom. And we have the opportunity to leak some of that kingdom into our work-places, families and communities.
​
Mother Theresa said that one of the guiding principles of her life was to do small things with great love, and others have pointed to doing small things with great faith.
 
This is the way the kingdom comes. This is the way we endow every moment with divine purpose…

THIS WEEK'S GRACE RHYTHM

​Which small things make up your day?
​Resolve to do them with great love and great faith.

NEXT WEEK: 7. AN ANOINTED PLAN
​Struggling with overcrowded days?

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​​[Photo credits: The Dream Archives (daydreaming girl); John Cameron (supermarket queue);
Brooke Cagle (girl on laptop); @ Unsplash, with thanks]