Finding Divine Purpose in Everyday Acts

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the life and teachings of Brother Lawrence, born Nicholas Herman, a man whose life was marked by simplicity and humility. Despite his humble beginnings and numerous setbacks, including a life-altering injury and failed attempts at various vocations, Brother Lawrence found profound spiritual insight in the ordinary. His life teaches us that greatness in God's eyes is not measured by grand achievements or public acclaim but by the love and intention behind our everyday actions.

Brother Lawrence's philosophy, as captured in his writings, emphasizes that it is not necessary to have great things to do. Instead, he found spiritual fulfillment in the mundane tasks of life, such as flipping an omelet or picking up a straw, when done for the love of God. This perspective challenges us to embrace the ordinary and find divine purpose in our daily routines. By doing so, we align our lives with God's will, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.

The story of Brother Lawrence is a reminder that our lives are part of a grander narrative. Just as the small acts of biblical figures like the widow with her mite or the boy with loaves and fishes were significant, our small acts of love and service are seen and valued by God. The secret of the ordinary is that it is meant to be the vessel of the extraordinary, as demonstrated in the Incarnation of Jesus, who became small to reveal God's love.

In our own lives, we are encouraged to perform our tasks with love and gratitude, recognizing that each moment is an opportunity to express our devotion to God. Whether it's making a bed, writing an email, or simply being present with loved ones, these acts, when done with love, contribute to a story that is great in God's eyes. Let us embrace the ordinary, knowing that it is through these small acts that we participate in God's extraordinary work.

Key Takeaways:

- Embrace the Ordinary: Brother Lawrence teaches us that greatness in God's eyes is found in the ordinary tasks of life. By performing these tasks with love and intention, we transform them into acts of worship and devotion. This perspective invites us to find divine purpose in our daily routines, aligning our lives with God's will. [04:35]

- Act of the Will: Love for God is not always accompanied by great feelings. It begins with an act of the will, a conscious decision to express gratitude and love for God in every moment. This intentionality transforms our actions and makes our stories great in God's eyes. [05:26]

- The Day of Small Things: The story of the rebuilding of the temple in Zechariah reminds us that God values small beginnings and acts of faith. No act done for the love of God is insignificant, and each contributes to the grand narrative of God's kingdom. [06:14]

- The Vessel of the Extraordinary: The ordinary is intended to be the vessel of the extraordinary. This truth is exemplified in the Incarnation, where God became small to reveal His love. Our small acts, when done with love, become part of God's extraordinary work. [08:16]

- A Grander Story: Our lives are part of a larger story, and each small act of love and service contributes to this narrative. By embracing the ordinary and performing our tasks with love, we participate in God's work and create a story that lasts. [10:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:43] - Introduction to Brother Lawrence
- [01:23] - The Power of Obscurity
- [02:06] - Victory of the People
- [02:36] - Impact of Little Things
- [03:05] - Ambition and Contentment
- [03:57] - Love in the Mundane
- [04:35] - Embrace the Ordinary
- [05:14] - Love as an Act of Will
- [06:14] - The Day of Small Things
- [07:14] - God's Perspective on Small Acts
- [08:16] - The Ordinary as Extraordinary
- [09:23] - The Value of Small Moments
- [10:01] - A Grander Story
- [11:07] - Conclusion and Community Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Zechariah 4:10 - "Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?"
2. Mark 12:41-44 - The Widow's Offering
3. John 6:1-14 - The Feeding of the Five Thousand

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Observation Questions:

1. What were some of the life challenges and setbacks faced by Brother Lawrence, and how did they shape his spiritual journey? [00:43]

2. How does Brother Lawrence describe his approach to mundane tasks, and what does this reveal about his understanding of worship? [03:57]

3. In the sermon, what examples are given to illustrate the significance of small acts in the Bible? [07:28]

4. How does the story of the rebuilding of the temple in Zechariah relate to the theme of valuing small beginnings? [06:14]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Brother Lawrence's philosophy challenge the common perception of what it means to live a life of significance? [04:35]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that love for God can be expressed through ordinary actions, even when great feelings are absent? [05:26]

3. How does the concept of "the day of small things" in Zechariah 4:10 apply to the modern believer's life and faith journey? [06:14]

4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between humility and spiritual greatness in the eyes of God? [08:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent ordinary task you performed. How can you intentionally transform such tasks into acts of worship and devotion to God? [04:35]

2. Consider a time when you felt your contributions were insignificant. How does the story of the widow's mite or the boy with loaves and fishes encourage you to view your actions differently? [07:28]

3. Brother Lawrence found joy in simple acts like flipping an omelet. What is one mundane task you can approach with love and gratitude this week, and how might it change your perspective? [03:57]

4. How can you cultivate an attitude of gratitude and love for God in your daily routine, even when you don't feel particularly spiritual or inspired? [05:26]

5. Identify a small beginning or act of faith in your life that you might be overlooking. How can you nurture it, trusting that God values and sees its potential? [06:14]

6. Think of a person in your life who might benefit from a small act of kindness. What specific action can you take this week to show them love and service? [07:42]

7. How can you remind yourself of the grander narrative of God's kingdom when you feel caught up in the monotony of daily life? [10:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Finding God in the Mundane
In the life of Brother Lawrence, we learn that the ordinary tasks of life can be transformed into acts of worship when done with love and intention. He believed that greatness in God's eyes is not about grand achievements but about the love and purpose behind our everyday actions. This perspective invites us to find divine purpose in our daily routines, aligning our lives with God's will. By embracing the ordinary, we can transform it into the extraordinary, as Brother Lawrence did in his simple acts of service. [04:35]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What is one mundane task you do daily that you can begin to see as an act of worship? How can you perform it with love and intention today?


Day 2: Love as a Conscious Choice
Brother Lawrence teaches us that love for God is not always accompanied by great feelings but begins with an act of the will. It is a conscious decision to express gratitude and love for God in every moment. This intentionality transforms our actions and makes our stories great in God's eyes. By choosing to love God through our actions, we align ourselves with His purpose and participate in His work. [05:26]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a moment today when you can consciously choose to express love for God through your actions. How will you make this choice, even if you don't feel like it?


Day 3: The Significance of Small Beginnings
The story of the rebuilding of the temple in Zechariah reminds us that God values small beginnings and acts of faith. Brother Lawrence's life exemplifies this truth, as he found spiritual fulfillment in the small, everyday tasks done for the love of God. No act done for God is insignificant, and each contributes to the grand narrative of His kingdom. By valuing the small things, we participate in God's extraordinary work. [06:14]

"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What small beginning or act of faith can you commit to today, trusting that God values and sees it?


Day 4: The Ordinary as a Vessel for the Extraordinary
The ordinary is intended to be the vessel of the extraordinary, as demonstrated in the Incarnation of Jesus. Brother Lawrence's life shows us that our small acts, when done with love, become part of God's extraordinary work. By embracing the ordinary, we allow God to work through us, revealing His love and purpose in the world. [08:16]

"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an ordinary aspect of your life that you can offer to God as a vessel for His extraordinary work. How can you approach it with love and openness to His purpose?


Day 5: Participating in a Grander Story
Our lives are part of a larger story, and each small act of love and service contributes to this narrative. Brother Lawrence's life reminds us that by embracing the ordinary and performing our tasks with love, we participate in God's work and create a story that lasts. Each moment is an opportunity to express our devotion to God and contribute to His kingdom. [10:01]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent small act of love or service you performed. How does it fit into the larger story of God's work in your life and the world?

Quotes


It is not necessary to have great things to do, you know I want you to think about your story and your story today. It is not necessary to have great things, things that look impressive or dramatic to do. I have a friend who like me is a three on the anram if you know anram stuff. [00:02:56]

I flip my little omelet in the frying pan for the love of God. When it's done, if I have nothing to do, I prostate myself on the floor and I love my God who gave me the grace to do it. After that, I get up happier than a king. [00:03:57]

When I can do nothing else, it is enough for me to pick up a straw from the ground for the love of God. And I would recommend for you sometime today that the takeaway for this one for your story for this day is pretty simple: embrace the ordinary. [00:04:23]

Do an ordinary task, do something maybe that you wouldn't have to do or that you often maybe outsource to other folks. Just when you're making the bed or making somebody else's bed or doing the dishes and maybe you do the dishes by hand rather than putting them in the dishwasher today. [00:04:36]

So often I'll think, well I'm supposed to feel these great feelings of love but I can't cure them up so I'm not able to do that much. No, no, no, no, no. What Brother Lawrence is talking about here is first of all an act of the will. I just simply stop and say God I love you. [00:05:19]

I want to love you. I want a heart that is full of gratitude and I will express gratitude right now. I have this life, I have this body, I have these friends, I have this day, I have this room, I have so many things to be grateful for. God I love you. [00:05:36]

In the Old Testament in the book of Zechariah there's a statement from the prophet: Who dares despise the day of small things? Now this comes at the end of when Israel had been in exile and they're returning to Jerusalem and they're going to rebuild the Temple. [00:06:02]

There is no such thing as a small thing. Any act done for the love of God in the Kingdom now, in his kingdom, is great since the seven eyes of the Lord that reigns throughout the Earth shall rejoice when they see the chosen Capstone in the hand of Zable. [00:06:59]

The obviously well-kept secret of the ordinary is that it was intended to be the vessel, the vehicle of the extraordinary. And that's ultimately expressed in the Incarnation with Jesus, where God became small, small as a baby, small enough to fit the manger. [00:08:07]

A Sacrament is something that's real ordinary and small, a piece of bread, this is my body, a cup of wine, this is my blood. That's why we pursue relics. My office is full of relics. I might take them around sometime. They're ordinary things but they become extraordinary. [00:08:26]

Every small moment, see our story is part of a grander story. I took our dogs out for a run today and I thought well I'll just try to do that for the love of God and took Cooper out, ran him a little longer, a little faster than usual, came back, loved him a little more than usual. [00:10:05]

What makes a story great is not its visible scale, it's not the title Sun King Louis XIV, it's not what makes people go why the Versailles Palace, it's that it's done with great love for God and when I'm done I prostrate myself on the ground and I pour out my love to God. [00:10:34]

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Transcript
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