Secular or Saintly

If you were to list everything you do into one of two categories - spiritual or secular - what would that list look like? Would one side be bigger than the other? Would you be ashamed that the secular side was bigger? Would you have anything to put on the spiritual side? If you're like most people, you would probably list on the spiritual side things like going to church, reading your Bible, praying, church committees, etc,; all those things that we normally associate with 'churchy' things. On the secular side we would find things like work, laundry, car pooling, soccer games and ballet, socializing with friends, etc.

What if that's not the way God sees things? What if, as Christians, everything we do is an act of service and worship? Read the scripture memory verse for this week: "Therefore, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.  And this one: "...and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to."  Deuteronomy 12:18b.

Think about that for a minute. What if that is really the way we are to view our lives - the activities of everyday living? Wouldn't it be great to live each day knowing that we have offered it to the Lord for his glory? Every day is a gift from God no matter what that day brings. If it is a good day, we can praise him for his blessings. If it's a difficult day, or even one that brings hardship or tragedy, we can grieve and mourn, be afraid or confused, and still rest in the fact that God is with us and be assured that our very reactions to our situations can bring him glory.

What's on your agenda for today? Take a few minutes as you start your day to present that list to God and ask for his blessings and his spirit to guide your actions and words today so that everything you do brings glory to him. It may be in a way that is very public and noticeable, or it may be in the simple act of having an obedient heart and mind, totally fixed on him.

Do you think that having this mindset will make a difference in how you go about your day? How so? Do you think that God views some activities as more 'spiritual' than others? What other scripture reminds you of the fact that every facet of our lives belongs to him?

Have a blessed day of service to the Lord today, whatever you "put your hand to."