“For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”  Zech. 4:10

Is it possible to delight the heart of God through quiet, seemingly obscure, routine faithfulness? The word of God screams “Yes” a thousand times over. From this passage we find that the seemingly insignificant faithfulness of  Zerubbabel in well utilizing a mere measuring stick (plumb line) for the rebuilding of the temple is enough to capture our Lord's attention and "rejoice" His heart. What man disdains as “the day of small things”, God elevates as headline news. All obedience done in dependence upon the Spirit God for the glory of God is big. Period. When the ordinary activities and responsibilities of life are carried out with an eye toward bringing God’s spectacular-ness (His glory) out into the open, we are immediately airlifted out of ordinary, inconsequential living. Martin Luther put it so well, "The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays — not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors." I love that thought.

Preaching the gospel is certainly one facet of doing God’s will. An important one. But so is sweeping floors, washing dishes, changing diapers, filling up the car, getting kids to school, filing expense reports, brushing teeth, etc. And not of one these seemingly mundane parts of life is viewed by God as unimportant. Or secular. Or small. And done for Him, they all catch His eye and delight His heart. How amazing! How freeing! How invigorating! And it is in the daily, routine, oft-hidden aspects of life that our greatest opportunities for bringing a shot of joy to the heart of God are often found. A well swept floor provides just as much opportunity for divine delight as a well preached sermon. And that, my friends, is one of the things I LOVE about our faith.