For every 4 characters you read about in the Bible, 3 of them were people who held jobs and roles in the marketplace, in government or the home. Winemakers, midwives, small business owners, prison guards, craftsmen, servants in a household, soldiers, farmers, government officials, harvesters, event managers, advisors to kings… the job titles are vast! And the ways these people served God’s purposes were equally so!
Perhaps that has always been obvious to you in your own reading of the Bible, but for me, I somehow had blinders over my eyes for decades. I had this false association that people who did great things for God were always in these ‘set apart for God’ type roles, like John the Baptist, Paul the missionary or Jeremiah the prophet. Deserts, foreign lands and cisterns became the measure for ‘really’ serving God!
I didn’t realise I was operating with this set of lenses. But removing them has been incredibly inspiring as I’ve learned to read the Bible with eyes to see how God partnered with people in very ordinary situations, for extraordinary Kingdom purposes. That’s something I can relate to! These are the types of stories where I can see myself walking in similar shoes and be encouraged by the example these everyday-type Bible characters set.
Yes, we have many examples of people in the Bible who faithfully and sacrificially stepped out of their occupations or were set apart from birth in order to serve God in unique ways. Their obedience is to be admired! But we have countless examples of men and women who, right in the middle of their everyday work, encountered God or used their platform and resources to serve Him or ministered right there in the place that they were.
Such examples validate those of us who have a desire to live wholeheartedly for God and serve His Kingdom, yet find ourselves in the offices, shop-floors, laboratories or garages rather than ………. [insert some perceived holy place].
Right where you are, doing what you are doing with the gifts and talents God has given you, surrounded by whatever eclectic mix of people from society who frequent your place of work, means you are perfectly positioned to partner with God for great Kingdom exploits! Sure, God may call you out of that work and into a specific position or place to serve Him, and if He does – OBEY! Step out in faith and follow Him in that. But for most of us, where we currently are in our daily work is where God wants to partner with us right now!
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep… After seeing [Jesus], the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished [Luke 2:8; 17-18]
In the middle of a regular night shift at work, a group of hard-working men were interrupted by an unexpected supernatural encounter that would take them from obscurity and into the pages of history (and primary school nativity songs!). From shepherds in a field to the first to greet Israel’s long-awaited Messiah, these ordinary men were invited into the extraordinary activity of God. Not because they were qualified or had earned the opportunity. And not because they held esteemed religious titles. But simply because God chose to do so. They had the honour of being the first humans to publicly declare the good news of Christ’s arrival!
And what did these men do after fulfilling their Divine appointment? They returned to their shift. They got back to work. Their lives probably didn’t look very different from one day to the next, but I’m certain they themselves were changed men after their encounter with Jesus, and the passing on of their story has continued to astonish generations for thousands of years.
No ‘holy calling’ or path of destiny, these simple shepherds were in the midst of an average shift at work when they were invited to participate in God’s story. They received His instruction, stepped out in obedience, encountered Jesus and then shared about their experience with anyone who would listen. God was glorified through these men as they played their small part in the bigger picture of what was unfolding.
Imagine God showing up in your place of work and calling you into an opportunity to partner with Him in His great purposes?!
I want to suggest He’s already there and He already has… Perhaps, like me, you just need to remove false lenses and see with greater clarity that you are perfectly positioned!
It’s not likely you’ll get a visit from a host of angels (although, never say never!), but more like the nudge and leading of the Holy Spirit within you to step out in faith, make a certain decision, start a conversation with that colleague, act with integrity when tempted to compromise, stand against injustice, share your personal encounter with Jesus. It may seem small or even insignificant, but we can’t foster this mindset in the Kingdom of God. Every act of obedience in response to the Spirit’s leading accomplishes His purposes and brings Him glory!
Here I am, LORD, perfectly positioned at the hotdesk in the office in town centre…
Mel is Head of School for Worship.Works’ newly launched School of Work-Based Ministry – equipping believers to change their world through their work.