Several weeks ago I stood in my kitchen, casually thumbing through my mail, when my mind wandered to an unusual, but oddly compelling thought: Do I follow God, or do I simply follow my upbringing, my church doctrine, or maybe even what I think others expect of me? Do I even know what it means to really, truly follow God? What would following God look like for a woman in the 21st century? What would it look like for me?
I stopped sifting through the stacks of junk mail, leaned against my kitchen island and silently prayed. Lord, don’t let me simply be a religious person, who knows the right words to say, but whose heart is dull to the reality of your presence in my life. God, help me to really, honestly, follow You.
This summer I’ve been on a journey to discover what following Jesus looks like for someone like me–a normal gal living in a normal place with normal circumstances. I’ve been writing a Bible study as a sort of document of my quest to follow God. Today I thought it would be fun to give you a peek inside what God has been showing me in the hopes that it might help you to understand a little piece of what following God means for women like you and me.
So here’s a snippet of tonight’s Bible study from “Follow: Week Six (Living Like Jesus)”
“so he (Jesus) got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 15:4-5)
During the Last Supper did Jesus serve the crowds outside his circle of intimate relationships or the few inside His circle of intimate relationships?
Although on several occasions Jesus served crowds of people, on this occasion he served (in a most intimate and humbling way) those closest to Him. I have an ulterior motive for asking the question above. I want you to see something God revealed to me just this week as I was writing and praying about this lesson. It also happens to dovetail with my current life circumstances.
Too many of us I fear—me included—fail to define the small acts of service done to those who share our homes, our cubicles, our apartments or our dorm rooms as “the works of God”.
But they are.
They are.
Every diaper you change is a work of God.
Every meal you cook is a work of God.
Every homework assignment you oversee is a work of God.
Every lending hand is a work of God.
Every encouraging, compassionate conversation you have is a work of God.
Every godly piece of advice you share is a work of God.
Every faithful day at your job is a work of God.
Every intimate moment with your husband is a work of God.
Every dollar you give is a work of God.
At first glance, washing feet doesn’t sound very “spiritual” does it? Yet Jesus chooses this utterly base and menial task to demonstrate how we are to live. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” Jesus asked. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done”. In God’s economy expressing love through meeting the needs of another human being is an integral component of following Jesus.
So, how does this relate to my current life circumstance? To give you some background, I’ve been in full time ministry for 25 years. I have written two Christian books and am working on my third. I’ve spoken to thousands of women, all over the world, teaching them God’s Word. I’m married to my pastor. You would think this qualifies me as someone who “does the work of God”, right? Yet this past week, I was praying in my shower (which by the way is one of my favorite places to pray. But I digress…) I was asking for God’s blessing and protection over my daughter who left yesterday to begin her freshman year at college, thousands of miles from our home. My prayer was so heartfelt that I got down on my knees as I prayed, allowing the water to wash over me. As I prayed I felt God whisper to my heart, “She is your best work. All your kids are.”
It was as if God revealed what I have really known all along, but somehow forgot in the day-to-day routine of living: the real work of God starts with our service to those closest to us.
And in my shower I felt God look down upon me and smile.
If you are asking “what did God create me for? What’s my purpose? What am I supposed to do in this season of my life? How can I follow God in my real, everyday life as it is right now?”
As you seek to answer these questions, don’t make the mistake of dividing life up into categories of “spiritual” versus “nonspiritual” activities. What makes something spiritual is not the activity but the attitude behind it. All of life is spiritual for a woman who follows Jesus.
Do you want to be a woman who follows God? Don’t look for the big, or the flashy, or the grandiose plan God has in store. Instead, look closely at the people who occupy your world. Begin to follow Jesus by washing their feet.
Take a moment and talk to God about how you have or have not been following His example by serving those closest to you–your husband, your children, your co-workers or your neighbors. Ask Him to help you even if the service is difficult, inconvenient, humbling or hard.
My Kylie in Haiti yesterday….one of my three best works for God.
Donna – Beautiful! I miss you! 🙂