Small Things

The Jews, led by Zerubbabel, had returned to Judea and Jerusalem, yet many things were not as they appeared to be and their glory was not as of old. They felt very small (as the church can today) in a much wider world (the Persian Empire). They felt as if it was a day of “small things.”
“For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice.” (Zech 4:10)
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Despite how they felt, moment by moment, day by day, they trusted God’s promises and waited upon Him believing that He would use His people to accomplish great things, chiefly: the coming of Christ through Zerubbabel’s line. All of the steps along the way were part of God’s plan to, as John the Baptist proclaimed, prepare the way.

As Christians in our daily walk, or as a local church, it can be easy to feel as if our lives and ministry are “small things,” insignificant to God’s plans, not useful in the grand scheme of ministry or the vastness of the world. May Zech 4:10 call us to think again! Consider these examples:

• The Mustard Seed (Mt 13:31)
• The Church beginning with 12 motley disciples
• Ireland being converted through one man’s missionary zeal, Patrick
• The spark of the Reformation being light by one man’s cry, Luther
• A small group of pastors in Northamptonshire, England, praying and birthing the Evangelical Revival and the modern missions movement
• A select group of missionaries serving in Nagaland, India, which is now 90% Christian (and 80% Baptist).

Don’t wait for great things and so be discouraged, in faith, seize hold of what God is calling you to today and find that when we do what lay to our hand, our life will become rich in opportunities to be useful in the Lord’s service, and like the mustard seed, Christ will bless and transform them into great things.