One of my favorite shows is the X-Files. In season nine, a two-part episode called Nothing Important Happened Today concludes with a scene where Deputy Director Kersh is coyly trying to keep his agent on track with an investigation even while he wants to appear to be against the investigation. The exchange includes this dialogue:
KERSH: You ever hear of King George the Third?
DOGGETT: (Turning back toward KERSH) You answer my question!
KERSH: He was King of England when America declared Independence in 1776. King George the Third kept a diary. On July 4th 1776, he made an entry in it: "Nothing Important Happened Today."
DOGGETT: What [...] has that got to do with me?
KERSH: Revolutions start, things that change the world forever, and even kings can miss them if they're not paying attention.
Kersh's point was that small things happen that have larger significance, but if we're not paying attention to the larger picture, we're likely to miss it entirely.
Discipleship is a lot like this. We're called to a long, slow walk of obedience, always moving forward, keeping our focus on Jesus.
Jesus teaches a couple things about this. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus teaches about the importance of faith that is even as small as a mustard seed. With this faith, which many of us would consider to be little (and almost embarrassing), Jesus says you can even move mountains. Faith is determined by use and action, not by storage. You might think you have great faith, but only when it is called upon will you see how great your faith really is.
Jesus also teaches, in Matthew 25:31-46, about how seemingly small acts have eternal significance. In this passage, people are shocked to learn that through commission or omission of small acts of service to those in need that they either served or ignored Jesus himself! In this case, a small act of giving someone in need a cup of water had eternal significance!
As we live, we may think that the things we do (or don't do) have little meaning. But in the larger picture that God is painting with our lives, the smallest thing can end up having the largest impact.
Realize that to you, a small act that may not even be noticed at that time may deeply affect someone. You may feel at the end of the day as though "nothing important happened today." But recognize that through small acts you may change someone's life.
KERSH: You ever hear of King George the Third?
DOGGETT: (Turning back toward KERSH) You answer my question!
KERSH: He was King of England when America declared Independence in 1776. King George the Third kept a diary. On July 4th 1776, he made an entry in it: "Nothing Important Happened Today."
DOGGETT: What [...] has that got to do with me?
KERSH: Revolutions start, things that change the world forever, and even kings can miss them if they're not paying attention.
Kersh's point was that small things happen that have larger significance, but if we're not paying attention to the larger picture, we're likely to miss it entirely.
Discipleship is a lot like this. We're called to a long, slow walk of obedience, always moving forward, keeping our focus on Jesus.
Jesus teaches a couple things about this. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus teaches about the importance of faith that is even as small as a mustard seed. With this faith, which many of us would consider to be little (and almost embarrassing), Jesus says you can even move mountains. Faith is determined by use and action, not by storage. You might think you have great faith, but only when it is called upon will you see how great your faith really is.
Jesus also teaches, in Matthew 25:31-46, about how seemingly small acts have eternal significance. In this passage, people are shocked to learn that through commission or omission of small acts of service to those in need that they either served or ignored Jesus himself! In this case, a small act of giving someone in need a cup of water had eternal significance!
As we live, we may think that the things we do (or don't do) have little meaning. But in the larger picture that God is painting with our lives, the smallest thing can end up having the largest impact.
Realize that to you, a small act that may not even be noticed at that time may deeply affect someone. You may feel at the end of the day as though "nothing important happened today." But recognize that through small acts you may change someone's life.
