Blog

6

Apr

2016
 

The Ordinary Extraordinary

By Pastor Steve Kelly / Books /

Modern culture is driven by the celebrity effect. As a result, almost everyone wants to be a star; to be extraordinary. Every week, our Facebook pages and Instagram posts broadcast our personal highlight reel. In a culture where we use social media to present our best side, often airbrushed and edited, we can begin to believe that appearance is all that matters. We can get caught up in comparisons and get in a cycle of striving to appear extraordinary, instead of working to become extraordinary.

 

Appearing extraordinary is often about big crowds, fancy clothes, and sophisticated parties – it’s about looking like we are “in”.

 

Becoming extraordinary is about consistent diligence regardless of the audience. It’s doing what’s right day after day, no matter who notices, or if no one does.

 

Some people think that life needs to be exotic and exciting losartan 25 mg. Some think that the extraordinary is found in the salacious. Having an illicit affair. Binge drinking on the weekend with the boys. Blowing the budget on a big trip that isn’t affordable. The truth is, there’s nothing extraordinary about those things, other than extraordinary foolishness. The truth is, it’s the ordinary “boring” things in life that make an extraordinary life. The ordinary is not mundane – it’s the proving ground for our lives. It’s the sure foundation and the steady climb that slowly but surely leads us to an extraordinary life.

 

There’s a reason that Galatians 6:9 instructs us, “Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you will reap, if you do not faint.”

 

A great example of this principle is seen in the life of Daniel. Daniel was taken captive as a six-year-old boy and spent the rest of his life (80+ years) in a culture that was opposed to his heritage. He lived and served through four different monarchs. In most situations, a new king killed everyone who served the old king, in order to protect his dynasty. In Daniel’s case, because he was extraordinary, he was kept in a position of authority through every single regime change.

 

In Daniel 6:3 we read: “Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” What an excellent example! Daniel never grew weary. He was faithful and diligent every day, for all of his days. Because he was consistent in the ordinary, he became extraordinary.

 

It’s the same in our lives. Just do the ordinary with diligence and faithfulness over a long enough period of time and guess what? You won’t have to worry about appearing extraordinary. You will be extraordinary!