All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. – Oswald Chambers

In our spotlight, celebrity culture we often forget something that’s so vital – God loves to use the ordinary. In fact, God rarely uses the extraordinary. Extraordinary individuals tend to be arrogant and independent. When God uses the average individual, He gets, as He should, all the glory. Because without Him and His hand on our life, we’re helpless and inconsequential.

Most of us have difficulty reading the genealogies in the Bible (I do). The only thing that we know about most of them is their name. They though reveal some vital truths…1) If no one else knows your name, your loving Heavenly Father knows it. 2) It shows that though we human beings come and go, God’s plan continues and will continue, until we all get Home. And all of His children are going to get Home before dark! 3) All of us are uniquely designed by a loving Creator and He has a purpose for us. For example, do you regularly light candles? If the power goes off though, you’re looking for overlooked candles. One of our purposes is that the Savior has us as His light often in a dark place. God loves to use people and circumstances that we think of as plain and ordinary. 

Ordinary never means insignificant. Recently, I stumbled on this account of Lisa Beamer. She was unwillingly thrust into the spotlight of fame in 2001. Her husband, Todd, was one of the heroes on United Flight 93 on 9/11. He was one of the men who decided they weren’t going to sit by while terrorists flew their jet into another American landmark. His last words before they stormed the cockpit to subdue the terrorists were, “Let’s roll.” It wasn’t long after that, Lisa wrote a book, Let’s Roll, and she went on the speaking circuit. She was one of the most sought-after speakers in the nation with over 200 media appearances in the first six months after 9/11. Have you noticed you haven’t heard anything from Lisa in decades? There’s a reason for that. Some years ago, Lisa made a decision that her place wasn’t in the spotlight. She left the speaking circuit and resumed what she calls “an ordinary life.” She devoted her time to her three children and her job with a homeless prevention agency. The only public appearance that I’m aware of (I happened to be there) was to speak at a commencement of Wheaton College, her and Todd’s alma mater. She spoke a powerful word of encouragement to people who think that just because their lives are “ordinary,” they don’t really matter to God. Lisa told the new graduates So, as you wake up tomorrow, and begin your new lives, don’t be dismayed to find your lives turn ordinary soon enough. When you realize that today is kind of similar to yesterday and a bit like tomorrow, ask yourself who is becoming whole again on your watch, what is being healed through your influence, how is God redeeming His creation by way of your life? Your good answers will surely be the mark of significance even in an ordinary life.

You might not be the widow of a hero, but you have a story of God’s grace in your life. Please never be ashamed to share your testimony and what God has done and is doing in your life! We live in a world where too often we think, and particularly young people, that unless we’re amazing and extraordinary, we don’t matter. That’s a lie from the Evil One. 

Do you know what has significance with King Jesus? Faithfulness. Our Lord wants every Christ-follower to follow Him faithfully. Scripture is clear that faithfulness is far superior to worldly success, popularity, fame or having something spectacular to brag about. The Bible says, Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends [himself/herself] who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10:17-18). 

As I look back over my life, ordinary would describe it. I live it every day. I live an ordinary life, pastor an ordinary church full of ordinary people, and head home to my ordinary home in an ordinary town. I preach very ordinary sermons—John Piper or John MacArthur, I am not and never will be. As I engage with the people that I love both within and outside our church, I’m sure that I don’t say anything profound or even memorable. I haven’t lived an exciting life and don’t have phenomenal stories to share or to entertain others with. As one of my heroes, Vance Havner, titled one of his books, Just a Preacher. Maybe my preaching skills have improved a notch or two in my decades of ministry but there hasn’t been any sudden or dramatic improvement. And my life? It’s still just about the same, I think. I enjoy it and love to live it even though it’s nearly always mundane. I’m not a thrill seeker. In fact, I love to live it because it is almost always very mundane. My biggest excitement is probably trying out a new recipe or reading a new book. I’m kind of vanilla (though I am married to a Queen). 

So, is it okay to work hard at your job without aiming to be the CEO of the company? Is it okay to work hard at your job without being socially popular at work? The answer to both questions is “Yes!” Work is a way of worshiping the Lord and being His witness to those in our work environment. Our witness includes our employers and co-workers, so be the best employee you can be. That’s true if you work in a factory, answer phones or are a stay-at-home mom. As God said in Jeremiah 29 to Israelites taken captive and living in Babylon, Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7). Substitute “employer” for city and the principle still applies.

Can you name all twelve of Jesus’ disciples? When Jesus commissioned His followers to go everywhere and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-19), that commission wasn’t given to super stars or ordained preachers, hired church staff, or missionaries. He gave that commission to ordinary, everyday women and men just like you and me. A few did extraordinary things and are written about in the book of Acts. Others just proclaimed the good news of the gospel wherever they went. For the most part, they’re unnamed…ordinary! But they talked about someone who was beyond extraordinary – Jesus. They told everyone about Him – their families, friends, neighbors, even enemies in the context of their everyday lives.

Is it okay to be ordinary? As a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, the answer is “Yes.” Spend time with Jesus, let Him use you and He will make your life something wonderful…something extraordinary!