Will you serve when He doesn’t want a dragon slain?

A paradox is offered in Leviticus 2. Here we find the Supreme Creator of the Universe, who hangs stars on nothing, carves mountain ranges, and sets the boundaries of the seas, telling His people how He wants to be approached. He doesn’t request some great feat or the completion of a quest. Jehovah doesn’t want Jason’s Golden Fleece, Hera’s apple, Arthur’s grail, or even Sauron’s ring. Instead, He asks for some common kitchen ingredients: fine flour, oil, and salt.

Wow! We serve a God who doesn’t demand we scale a cosmic ladder of challenges, but who just wants the ordinary results of our daily labor to be given for His glory.

Yet, this creates its own struggle. We prefer the epic quest over ordinary obedience because it quietly pets our ego. We speak with God the way a man speaks to his wife when he declares, “I would do anything for you!” By “anything,” he means fighting dragons, crossing stormy seas, and traversing dangerous wastelands. He certainly does not mean folding laundry, washing dishes, or operating the vacuum cleaner. Anything. Anything big. Our love is meant for romantic heroism, not household servitude.

We bring this same doublespeak to our relationship with God, loudly proclaiming our willingness to do the most epic or endure the most harsh; we espouse our willingness to embrace radical challenges while living our lives with systematic neglect of daily devotion and holiness. We bring Him our casual leftovers, the scraps of our time, talent, and treasure after we have invested the principal parts of our lives to pursue our own comforts and desires.

Then we wonder why the fire of heaven refuses to fall on our convenient sacrifice.

What if I told you that God has little interest in your imaginary slaying of dragons, but He is incredibly interested in your faithfulness in the mundane moments of life? Sanctification, becoming like Him, happens in the hot coals of the ordinary: when the alarm goes off and you choose devotional time over the snooze button, when you do your vocational work as unto the Lord, when you bite your tongue in moments of emotional tension, and when you quietly serve others.

God is not asking you for the grand gesture. He took care of that on the cross. He is asking you for the ordinary. Will you give it to Him?

Today, replace daydreaming about your future feats of spiritual service with fixing areas of disobedience or neglect that are right in front of you. Maybe you could identify a particularly mundane task, a chore you dread, or a quiet moment of devotion that you either rush through or complain about. Take a moment and make it your grain offering; explicitly offer it to God as service in the ordinary. THAT is a pleasing aroma to Him.

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Published by patrickwconley

Pastor Patrick and his wife Heather have dedicated their lives to sharing the transforming power of the Gospel with whomever they encounter. They are the proud parents of two daughters, Reagan and McKinley. Pastor Conley has served as a youth pastor, associate pastor, Bible teacher, principal, and lead pastor. His passion for the Word, inspired communication, and desire to connect people with the Gospel have led to him being a sought after speaker for camp meetings, revivals, conferences, and youth camps. Pastor Conley serves on the Board of Directors for Revival Tabernacle-Malawi. In addition to preaching and teaching, Pastor Conley is also a writer, having worked alongside many church and business leaders. He also hosts the "More Than a Conversation" podcast. Pastor Conley is the Lead Pastor of Garden Sanctuary Church of God: Garden Sanctuary Church of God Rock Hill is a multi-generational Pentecostal/Charismatic church located in Rock Hill, SC. Garden Sanctuary’s purpose and intention is to be a place for you to GROW. Garden Sanctuary desires to see you grow in your relationship with God, to grow in your relationship with others, and to grow in every area of your life as a disciple of Christ. At Garden Sanctuary Rock Hill, we believe every individual is important regardless of age or race, and we strive to be a place where everyone is accepted and belongs. Garden Sanctuary is a church focused on salvation, discipleship, community, and prayer. Garden Sanctuary Church of God exists to prepare people to connect, grow, and serve - God - Church - Community. The Garden Sanctuary Church of God is a community of believers in the city of Rock Hill that has been established for over 100 years. Rich in tradition and heritage, we have consistently been a safe-haven in our community and city. In 1915 our church began with a few tent poles and several spirit-filled believers who desired more of God in their lives. With those humble beginnings, God began doing a special and unique work in Rock Hill. The Holy Spirit changed lives, relationships were made, and Garden Sanctuary Church of God was born. While many things have come and gone in Rock Hill over the last 100 years, Garden Sanctuary Church of God has become a fixture in the community. We have become a church strong in number, impact, and faith. We have moved beyond those tent poles to modern facilities, but our heartfelt desire for more of God remains unchanged. If you are looking for a church family in Rock Hill, SC, whether you have a Pentecostal background or not, we would love to have you join us at Garden Sanctuary Church of God. Garden Sanctuary Church of God is located at 831 Cedar St in Rock Hill SC.

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