“Do not despise small beginnings” (Zechariah 4:10). You may be familiar with this verse without knowing the back story. At the end of Israel’s 70-year captivity, Zerrubabel returned with a small group of Jews to re-build the Temple. It was harder than he expected; he got discouraged. And, people disparaged a structure that would never be as grand as Solomon's. For 12 years, the work stopped. Then the word of the Lord came to him through Zechariah to start again, saying, do not despise small beginnings, or small things.
Our generation loves BIG things—monster houses, mammoth malls, and mega churches. No one talks of doing “small things” for God. We like big, attention-grabbing projects and campaigns. But if we despise (regard as negligible or worthless) small things, we may miss the very thing God is doing around us.
The life and ministry of Jesus demonstrates the significance of small. Born in a small shed, surrounded by chickens, sheep, cows, donkeys—despised things—He would confound the wise. Hailing from the tiny town of Nazareth, with a small group of provincial men from a politically insignificant nation, Jesus changed the world, saying, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains (Matt. 17:20). Do not despise small things. That seems to be where God does some of His best work!
Showing posts with label simple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label simple. Show all posts
Friday, April 6, 2012
Friday, August 27, 2010
Trying to Keep it Simple in a Complicated World
I don’t usually remember jokes, but this one stuck in my mind for its humorous conveyance of helplessness in our financial crisis: “If you laid all the economists in the world end to end, they still wouldn't reach a conclusion.” Indeed, the causes and cures for the recession are complicated.
Paul said I am focusing all my energies on this ONE THING: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13). And what lay ahead for Paul was knowing Jesus better and better. Before his conversion, Paul placed high importance on his knowledge of many things. But from that instant of new birth, he wanted only ONE THING: to know Jesus. He knew that everything else was worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:8).
In the midst of a complicated world, knowing Jesus is the ONE THING we need. Every believer who really knows Jesus will fear nothing on earth. But be careful: these confusing times will lead many away from pure and SIMPLE devotion to Jesus (2 Cor.11:3). But those who know Jesus as the ONE THING will dwell in peace. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Is. 26:3).
Paul said I am focusing all my energies on this ONE THING: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13). And what lay ahead for Paul was knowing Jesus better and better. Before his conversion, Paul placed high importance on his knowledge of many things. But from that instant of new birth, he wanted only ONE THING: to know Jesus. He knew that everything else was worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:8).
In the midst of a complicated world, knowing Jesus is the ONE THING we need. Every believer who really knows Jesus will fear nothing on earth. But be careful: these confusing times will lead many away from pure and SIMPLE devotion to Jesus (2 Cor.11:3). But those who know Jesus as the ONE THING will dwell in peace. You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Is. 26:3).
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