Following God in the Ordinary Things
Following God's providence in everyday life is a crucial part of our spiritual journey and can lead to a deeper understanding of His will.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of walking worthy of God's calling, emphasizing that God may speak to us in the midst of our daily routines through various means like a friend's words, a book's sentence, or a sudden thought, leading us to a new understanding of life and duty. She highlights the need to discern God's call by ensuring that the prescribed duty goes against our natural inclinations and aligns with what God has previously taught us. Tileston urges believers to listen for God's guidance in the ordinary events of life, as following His call to higher duties and perfect service can have eternal significance.
Text
Walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:12
AMID our most trivial duties, on days which are passing in the usual round of uneventful routine, He may speak to us as never before. A quiet word may be dropped by a friend,--a sentence read in a book,--a thought lodged, we know not how or why, in the mind. We are laid under obligations to a new and more imperious view of life and duty. There is, of course, room for self-delusion of many kinds in the supposed visit of the heavenly call. But we are tolerably safe if two conditions are observed,--if, first, the duty or line of life prescribed is unwelcome to our natural inclinations; and if, secondly, it does not contradict what we know God has taught us hitherto. To listen for the footsteps of the divine Redeemer passing by us in the ordinary providences of life is a most important part of the probation of every man. How much may depend upon following when He beckons us to some higher duty, to some more perfect service, we shall only know when we see all things as they really are in the light of His eternity.
H. P. LIDDONM
I will charge my soul to believe and wait for Him, and will follow His providence, and not go before it, nor stay behind it.
SAMUEL RUTHERFORD
Sermon Outline
- The Call of God in Ordinary Things
- The Conditions of a True Call
- Following God's Providence
- Unwelcome duties may be divine
- The call must not contradict God's previous teaching
- Listen for God's footsteps in everyday life
- Follow God's providence, not your own desires
Key Quotes
“To listen for the footsteps of the divine Redeemer passing by us in the ordinary providences of life is a most important part of the probation of every man.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“How much may depend upon following when He beckons us to some higher duty, to some more perfect service, we shall only know when we see all things as they really are in the light of His eternity.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Listen for God's voice in everyday duties and follow His providence.
- Trust that following God's will will lead to a more perfect service and a deeper understanding of His eternity.
- Wait for God and do not go before or stay behind His providence.