You Are More

Today's encouragement comes from "Streams in the Desert", page 86-87.

February 24

Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true. (John 10:41)


Perhaps you are very dissatisfied with yourself.  You are not a genius, have no distinctive gifts, and are inconspicuous when it comes to having any special abilities. Mediocrity seems to be the measure of your existence.  None of your days are noteworthy, except for their sameness and lack of zest.  Yet in spite of this you may have a great life.

John the Baptist never performed a miracle, but Jesus said of him, "Among those born of women there is no one greater." (Luke 7:28).  His mission was to be "a witness to the light" (John 1:8), and that may be your mission and mine.  John was content to be only a voice, if it caused people to think about Christ.

Be willing to be only a voice that is heard but not seen, or a mirror whose glass the eye cannot see because it is reflecting the glory of the Son.  Be willing to be a breeze that arises just before daylight, saying "The dawn! The Dawn!" and then fades away.

Do the most everyday and insignificant tasks knowing that God can see.  If you live with difficult people, win them over through love.  If you once made a great mistake in life, do not allow it to cloud the rest of your life, but by locking it secretly in your heart, make it yield strength and character.

We are doing more good than we know.  The things we do today - sowing seeds or sharing simple truths about Christ - people will someday refer to as the first things that prompted them to think of Him.  For my part, I will be satisfied no to have some great tombstone over my grave but just to know that common people will gather there once I am gone and say, "He was a good man.  He never performed any miracles, but he told me about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself." George Matheson


Dear Friend,
If you are disheartened because you're a "mere" homeschool mom, and your heart is desiring more...consider this... the everyday work you do with your beloved children may seem tedious and insignificant at the moment, but trust me you are doing "Kingdom work." You are planting seeds that God will use later in their lives to share the Gospel with an unbelieving world; His word says so, Proverbs 22:6 "Train a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." That is Gods promise to us as parents to keep fighting the good fight!

Father, you already know the plans you have for us and our children, and how we are to get there. Please help us to keep our eyes on you and faithfully serve our children through our homeschool. Will you be faithful to meet each one of us this today, to encourage us and to fill our hearts with a renewed spirit...your Spirit. Amen.