When I was in middle school, I went to a church youth event where we played a game called “Bigger or Better.” It was the first - and last - time I’d heard of this game, so for those of you for whom this was a favorite childhood activity, please excuse the following description.
Basically, you have two teams, and each team is given the same item. I think I remember it being a golf tee (why I remember that and often forget my own phone number is beyond me). Anyway, the object was to go door to door in a neighborhood and ask each unsuspecting neighbor for something that was either bigger or better than the golf tee. After a certain amount of time, both teams would return to HQ (aka, the church), and the team with the biggest or (wait for it. . . ) best object would triumph. I don’t remember the results, but I do recall something like a bicycle and a giant beach ball. Basically, I think it gave the neighbors an excuse to get rid of something that had long been taking up much-needed storage space.
Anyway, I think God is in the business of bigger and better when it comes to His followers. I don’t think God asks things of us without having something else in mind.
Oh, you went on a mission trip? Okay. Now devote your life to . . . ministry/country/people group.
Oh, you’re mentoring a high school girl? Let me give you ten more.
Did I hear you say, “Here I am Lord. Send me?” Are you sure? Because I have plans.
Oh, you raised $15,000 for Me? Well, you get to do it again, except this time, you don’t get to ask anyone.
Oh crap.
Sometime God’s “bigger” is our “scarier,” and God’s “better” is something we see as impossible. But what else would you expect? You don’t ask a child to do long division without first teaching him to add and subtract. God’s “little” assignments - or, dare I say, trials - are what lead to greater things. James 1 tells us to “consider it pure joy. . . whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and not lacking anything.” (1:2 - 4)
What has God asked of you lately? Do you see how that is leading you to something bigger in your future? Is God requiring more faith than you even thought you possessed? What is something in your past that you see now as God’s way of preparing you for things to come?
Just somethin’ to think about on this Friday night.
In other news. . .
I just found out that I will speaking at a local Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) meeting next week about the Race and my future plans. Many prayers please!!
