humble commission

On Sunday a guest pastor, a missionary in The Czech Republic, preached a sermon entitled "Every Christian Has a Commission" over Isaiah 6; it was a convicting sermon as I often wrestle with whether life is too "normal" or too comfortable for me. One of the questions he asked us to consider is, "Where does God want you to be salt and light?" It's a self-posed question almost weekly as I wonder if my role as a stay-at-home wife and mother is a suitable fulfillment of God's calling in my life.

When I taught at a public high school, I had built-in contact with people bereft of hope and served in a capacity to engage, question, and encourage young people and colleagues in a meaningful way. I love staying home, but I miss those spontaneous intellectual conversations about truth, total depravity and original sin the language arts curriculum afforded.

One of the encouraging applications the guest pastor made during the sermon was discussing first the fulfillment of our commission in the home, then at work, in our church family and in our local community before he mentioned the international scene. I think missionaries can default to the global and burden Christians with some heavy guilt, and it was refreshing to hear him value the everyday work followers of Christ do in their homes and communities.

Because I often forget. I forget that cleaning up messes, laundering diapers and clothes, preparing meals, and disciplining my child for a repeated offense repeatedly is part of my commission--it's not a matter of being too inwardly focused as I often convince myself or a selfish endeavor fit for chiding. It's a pouring out of myself as an offering to the Lord, and I hope it is sweet in his sight.