Arise, shine...

Occasionally, I wake up knowing the day ahead will be filled with tasks which are mundane but necessary to fulfill work obligations, and my usual enthusiasm suffers. One morning earlier this week was like that. On those days, my mind wanders to grand and important things. Then, I remind myself each of us doing our individual jobs, whatever that work might be, is vital in the larger picture of life, and I get out of bed ready to tackle the day with glad anticipation to see what will be accomplished. (That last statement may be a little heavy on the eagerness and exhilaration, but mostly it's accurate.)

Oswald Chambers, in "My Utmost for His Highest," is quoted as saying, "When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery...there is no point in waiting for God to help us -- He will not. But once we arise, immediately we find He is there. Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue -- a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.

"Drudgery is one of the finest tests to determine the genuineness of our character. Drudgery is work that is far removed from anything that we think of as ideal work. It is the utterly hard, menial, tiresome, and dirty work. And when we experience it, our spirituality is instantly tested and we will know whether or not we are spiritually genuine. Read John 13. In this chapter, we see the Incarnate God performing the greatest example of drudgery -- washing fishermen's feet. He then says to them, 'If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet' (John 13:14). The inspiration of God is required if drudgery is to shine with the light of God upon it. In some cases the way a person does a task makes that work sanctified and holy forever. It may be a very common everyday task, but after we have seen it done, it becomes different. When the Lord does something through us, He always transforms it."

Oswald said it best, but I will add: When we go about our work, doing it to honor the teachings of Jesus, unexpected good things happen. As Isaiah 60:1 says, it is time to, "Arise, shine..."