Everyday people

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 2 Cor 4:7

God shows Himself strong on our behalf in our weakest moments, and this year He’s shown me that even when I feel my most broken and ordinary, His love and power are not only available for me, but also at work for others around me. Our small acts can have extraordinary significance when in His hands. I shouldn’t be surprised… the Jesus we follow is the One who, amongst many other things, miraculously turned a boy’s few loaves and fish into food for thousands!

I was at the ‘Pray for this city’ meeting in Kingston in September, and looking around I saw in the front row a man I recognised. Less than a year ago we’d served food to him at the winter night shelter, and here he was. My recollections were of a friendly and articulate, but troubled and angry man. I spoke with him, and his countenance was brighter, full of joy, and he said everything had changed since then – he had started attending Everyday Kingston the week after and has come back to God. What an amazing transformation … we serve food and offer a space to sleep for a few nights, but this little can be part of God’s plan to bring a lost son home.

On a Sunday, I’d spotted a young man walking into church at the very end of the service. He asked if he could go in and at the hesitation in his eyes I directed him towards a seat. God prompted me to speak to him after the service, and he shared some of his life and journey and his desire for God’s forgiveness and acceptance. He had been on his way to a different church, gotten lost and walked past ours. We prayed together and though there was still a lot of doubt in his heart and I’m not sure we will see him again, I’m encouraged that God’s heart is for this young man and His fierce love won’t give up on him.

In June this year, I organised a picnic at Wimbledon Common and asked a couple of friends if they’d come to church beforehand. I honestly didn’t think much of it. During the worship, someone shared about going air gliding the day before and how terrified she had been. It had prompted her to think about death – if she died that day, would she have lived every day for Jesus as best as she could? Did she live each day as if it was her last? We assume we’ll live until old age, but we don’t know when our time will come, so we need to make each day count. Phil preached on the one-word answer, that the gospel and everything we are looking for is one person: Jesus, and life is only worth living if we live for what matters.

It was an impacting service, and though I thought it was great my friends had been there to hear it, I didn’t have much time to think of it in the midst of picnicking on a lovely summer afternoon, and little one on one time with my friend.

What none of us knew was that that Sunday was his last day. He was found in his apartment the next evening, having suffered sudden heart failure. Amidst the shock and grief, I was awed by the realisation that of course God knew and had planned that my friend would be with us at church on his last day, would hear all those incredibly timely words and would choose to take communion. I was overwhelmed that something I’d done incidentally had been orchestrated by the Lord who is sovereign and knows all the days of our brief sojourn here on earth.

We don’t know, and the burden of knowing would be too much for our human frailty, but how humbling it is that God allows us to share in His plan and goodness. How awe-inspiring that we can put our whole trust in the One who is all-knowing and whose perfect timing sets all things in motion.

Why not allow Him to turn your little into much more in His hands today and in the lead up to Christmas? Your small acts of kindness, friendliness and generosity, your time or financial offering, your prayer for change in our city or to bless your neighbour, friend or even the person you find difficult to like (let alone love!), let’s walk together in faith that sowing seeds in love, no matter how small they seem, will yield a bountiful harvest in due time.

Everyday people, extraordinary God indeed!