In the past month, I have been really blessed by using the dictionary in my devotions. It sounds kind of weird, but God has shown me all sorts of new insights into scripture by expanding the definition of a word. I could write an entire blog on that (maybe I will sometime) but an example is the definition of the word Strength. I looked it up after reading "The joy of the Lord is our strength" -Nehemiah 8: 10. In Webster's dictionary, the word strong means (among many definitions): Capable of withstanding force or wear, not easily upset, having force of conviction, powerfully effective, in good or sound health (robust), capable of the effective exercise of authority. Thus, remaining in the joy of the Lord makes us capable of withstanding force or wear of discouragement/frustration/attack. Intentionally remaining in His joy increases our health, our conviction, and makes us powerfully effective as prayer warriors, friends, workers, and people. It gives a whole new meaning to "Be strong and courageous--be neither frightened nor dismayed for the Lord thy God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9, and it enhances "Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy (your strength!) may be in you and that your joy (strength) may be complete."-John 15:9-11 (parentheses mine)
I could go on forever about word definitions. But what I wanted to share in this blog is that I recently learned that Noah Webster was a strong man of faith who lived to serve and follow Christ. To me, this is an amazing illustration of the unfathomable ways that God can use a life lived by faith. When Webster created the dictionary, he exercised God-given talent, passion for language, motivation, intellect, and perseverance. I'm sure when he researched the meaning of the word "strong," he wasn't specifically aiming to figure out how to add more meaning to those three Bible verses; he was simply following the vocation that God had given him and letting Christ guide his work. Webster died in 1843. In 2007, his work is inspiring me in faith and making me hungry for God's word and giving me insights in a whole new way. I doubt Webster specifically intended that, but it's amazing how God can use a faithful follower to further His glory in uncoventional ways--and even ways that are completely unintended by us.
In conversations lately, I have shared the impact that a professor, an elementary school teacher, and a co-worker have had on my life. All of them were/are men and women of faith who were not overtly trying to evangelize but did--through actions, investment, and expressing concern. God worked through them--in spite of them, with them--to impact my faith walk in moments where they were not specifically trying. They were just living their lives as followers of Christ and He shone through them.
So, live on, brothers and sisters! When we are men and women fully alive in Christ, there is no telling how He will use us to encourage, teach, or impact. The best part is, it's often done best when we are seeking His will and living in the overflow of abundance rather than "trying" to plot specific actions to spread the Gospel. The responsibility is to hold fast to God and live our lives grounded in and guided by our relationships with Him. By being who you are in Christ, He may be setting up a crucial and life-changing insight for a person living 150 years from now. By living in relationship with Him and being authentic about it, God may be ushering in the deliverance of a friend who won't even tell you that God used a phrase you just "happened to say" to create a break-through. Don't hold back from God's will for you, and your impact on His Kingdom will be unfathomable--not because you're trying, but because God's faithful. You may never know it, but the world would be at a loss without the specific ways that God can use YOU if you are living your life moment by moment in His will.
In our calling to be fully alive in Christ, there is great responsibility and great freedom. Responsibility to "throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith..."-Hebrews 12: 1-2. And freedom to trust that when we are living with full investment, He will work through us in ways that surpass our dreams, understanding, ability, and effort.
I'll end with two quotes come to mind ...
"If you are called to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michelanglo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of Heaven and earth will pause to say 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I [God] will make you a blessing. Do not think you will take a blessing to someone, or hope that I will send a blessing. I will make you, as My ambassador, a sweet savor of life and grace. Through your peace and confidence others will seek me, and they shall find me even as you found me. You need only preserve your soul's integrity. This is enough to fully occupy your energies and attention. Leave the miracles to Me. You be and I will do."-Frances J. Roberts
God bless you!