In recent days, I have had extraordinary opportunities to hear several sermons, conference messages and other believers share some profound yet simple things that really caused me to consider much needed ideas and truths that I want to share.

Let’s start with the following – “What offends me, reveals me”.

I started with considering my own offenses and what bus me. God’s Word tell us “it is to a man’s glory to overlook an offense”. (Proverbs 19:11b) Well, Jesus said “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45) So, note the truth about what is held in our hearts will come out in what we say and what offends us…. That means likewise whatever we keep, store, consider – they all point out exactly who we really are, therefore what offends us also tells us a lot about what idols we have, what things we care about and what is important truly to us. Do these things that offend us line up with what bothers God? Do the offenses line up with what Scripture tells us should offend us? Either we are a pile of grudges and grumbles about pet peeves and fickle feelings or we are rightly bothered by the things of God and of His Word.

Next is this – “in God’s plan, small is the new big”.

After pondering this I found that most folks dream of doing big, great things for the LORD…. That is good and admirable, but isn’t it the little things done consistently over time what advents the biggest lifelong changes. The Word tells us “who despises the day of small things”. (Zecheriah 4:10a) and “He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28), not to mention “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:31-33) Each of this indicate a small thing or a person considers as such making big impact. Yeast is a miniscule fungus that impacts food and drink. A mustard seed is tiny, but when planted and germinates grows to bring a tree that gives shade, home and rest. And people who seem unimportant bring many small things into larger than life reality. God takes small things – that over time produce lasting fruit, relationships and changes to lives.

Now – I would like to now share what God gave me – “prepare for prophetic reality looking forward to the future without neglecting the duty of today”.

Think about it…. Looking at Scripture as a whole – many prophecies have been, are and will continue to come to fruition. It tells us to look ahead to Jesus’ return as the seasons of the end times are at hand and in great convergence; all the while not forgetting to “be about the master’s business” while we look forward to “His glorious appearing”. All three in conjunction are necessary to live a full life of service in proper perspective as the Gospel is fleshed out in our lives from faith.

Which one of these hits you right where you live today, in this moment, at this juncture? I confess – all three deeply have affected and have brought about great effect in my life…. Will you let what “the Holy Spirit is saying to the church” move you beyond where you have settled comfortably and into a place of small miracles that certainly have eternal impact?

By Jesus’ Grace, Truth and Love,

Pastor Daren Lee Barnett