When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NIV)
Climbing on track, consistently walking with God makes for an extraordinary life. Never underestimate the power of familiar paths and routine responsibilities. Consistently doing the next right thing for His glory and for our good – faithfully – adds up to a life well lived. A life that brings God much glory – one simple day and act of kindness at a time. Like Brother Lawrence who peeled potatoes as unto the Lord – no task is menial doing it as unto Him. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV): “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” When we serve others it is as doing it as unto Him. Remember what our Lord stated in Matthew 25:40 (NIV): “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”
As we are consistent and steady doing the next right thing, God receives much glory. And the faithful years continue to add up, Amen? They just keep coming. We set forth the example of practicing what we preach – becoming more and more like our Savior and less and less like us. And we would be hard-pressed to lead others heavenward if we ourselves do not practice the climb, right? We cannot give what we do not have. We do not have to be extremely far up but we do need to be climbing. We are not static people – we are either going upward towards holiness or downward towards worldliness.
The Apostle Paul forgot what was behind and strained toward what is ahead pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called him heavenwards. Like him, we too need to be pressing on. A life is a terrible thing to waste, Amen? And the only thing done for Christ through His power and for His glory and for our good will last when the fires test the quality of each man’s work (1 Corinthians 3:10-16). Nothing is menial done for the Lord.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)