Over the summer I had the opportunity to be an intern at Life.Church. This experience stretched me in ways I couldn’t imagine and I am truly thankful for this experience. One activity we did every Tuesday was communication practice. For those who know me, getting up and talking in front of my peers isn’t my style. I’d prefer to be unseen and unheard, sitting in the back. However, that wasn’t a choice. I HAD to stand up and talk to prove I wasn’t this shy, walked all over, type of girl.
Ok so communication practice number one was fine. I talked about something I enjoyed and though I thought I might faint, made it through. A few weeks pass, and we are told to pick an item out of a box. The item we pick will be the basis for a 5-minute sermon we must prepare. I am not a stranger to writing content to prepare and share with others, so I sit in a quiet place, pray about my object, and just start writing like nobody’s business. However, when it was my turn to speak, I choked.
I feared my peers would reject my words before they were spoken. I feared I would say something wrong. I feared looking like a fool. All this fear was so consuming that I did in fact, poorly deliver my mini sermon.
Since then I have been learning how to feel freedom in who I am in Christ and NOT waiting for others’ approval to pick a major, wear a shirt, go to the store, etc. In this new-found freedom, I would like to share my object sermon. Hopefully you will gain some insight on the biblical value of Lysol wipes…
What is the purpose of Lysol wipes? TO CLEAN!!
1. In Matthew 23:26 Jesus calls out the pharisees for “cleaning” the outside of the cup, aka performing for people, rather than “cleaning” the inside. I enjoy the simple things in life, such as washing dishes, however, it would be rather pointless to clean the outside of my coffee mug and not the inside where the mess is. The same is true about our selves. When we look at our heart condition and ask God to cleanse us on the inside we will become radiant servants for christ. We no longer have the need to please others but can enjoy the life God has blessed us with.
2. Use what you have… I was only given some wipes, but I made a sermon. The resources we feel we may have on earth don’t put restrictions on what God can do with what we have. In Matthew 15:35-38 Jesus multiplied seven loaves and a few small fish to feed over 5,ooo peeps. Our little human brains can’t fathom the magnitude of what God can do with our resources. On the days that I feel overwhelmed by the stacks of homework and my lack of time I ask God to multiply my time.. He never fails me. God is our provider and will give us what He knows we need in each season of life. If you struggle with having enough time, food, sleep, etc. I challenge you this week to ask God to multiply where you feel lack.
3. We each have a purpose. You may use Lysol wipes to clean the counter but you’re not going to use them to clean the dishes! This doesn’t deem the wipes useless. When we highlight our individual talents we can have good functioning offices, classrooms and homes. In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus calls out to some fisherman and asks them to come join him. He says they can be fisher of men, using the talents they had for the kingdom of God. What talents, hobbies, future goals do you have unique to you that will further the kingdom of christ? Don’t discount ideas write them down and pray over them. God will use you in ways you couldn’t image.
So whether doing the dishes and cleaning the bathroom excites you or not I hope you see how to look inward to cleanse your soul, be thankful with what you have, and remember that God can multiply those resources!
YOU each have a specific purpose and only have to live for Jesus!!
