I've heard this quote before but as I read it this morning I was once again encouraged in my daily "normal" vocation.
"Our foolishness consists in laying too much stress upon the show of works, and when these do not glitter as something extraordinary we regard them as of no value; and poor fools that we are, we do not see that God has attached and bound this precious treasure, namely His Word, to such common works as filial obedience, external, domestic, or civil affairs, so as to include them in his order and command, which he wishes us to accept, the same as though he himself had appeared from heaven.
What would you do if Christ himself with all the angels were visibly to descend, and command you in your home to sweep your house and wash the pans and kettles? How happy you would feel, and would not know how to act for joy, not for the work’s sake, but that you knew that thereby you were serving him, who is greater than heaven and earth..."
~ Excerpt from Luther's Sermon on Matthew 9:1-8 ~
"How happy you would feel, and would not know how to act for joy" ...
ReplyDeleteThat calls for a celebration!
Oh thank you. This redirection is so needed, and so often needs to be repeated. I am too often guilty of looking for rewards for all of my hard work. And I get so easily discouraged when I do not find it. All the "reward" I really need is this: "...serving Him who is greater than Heaven and earth."
ReplyDeleteIt is so encouraging to know that God sees us as we do all the little things, and He is pleased. This reminds me of Martin the Cobbler. He was so excited that God was going to come visit him, that he joyfully met the creaturely needs of his neighbors. Then he found out that God had sent those neighbors and that was the visitation.
ReplyDelete