By Rev. Chris Surber

I used to be a someday person. Someday I’d go on a mission trip. Someday I’d be a better person. Someday I’d be happier, nicer, more generous, and so on.

“Someday” is very much like “used to.” They are both cities with a population of zero. “Someday” and “Used-To” people have at least one thing in common. They waste today. Their tomorrow never comes, and yesterday isn’t a thing of the past.

When it comes to serving God, the question is not how great will our accomplishments be or how much will we get done for God or do for people. The important thing is not even how lasting our work will be. The question is simply this: Will we be faithful with today? Will we celebrate the goodness of God in our lives by doing what we can, where we are, with what we have?

All God has ever called anyone to do is to serve Him faithfully within the boundaries of their ability, location and gifts. That’s it. Why did God honor Abel’s sacrifice and not Cain’s? Simple. Because Abel offered it in faith. (Hebrews 11:4) Why did God choose Noah to survive the flood and become the midpoint progenitor of the human race? That’s easy. Because he had faith enough to listen to God’s plan and purpose for him. (Hebrews 11:7)

Friend, all God has ever called anyone to do is to be faithful to the calling God places on their lives, to respond to the burden He places in our hearts, today, right where we are with the resources we have access to in whatever strength and ability we have, in the context of the people and world around us.

Perhaps you’ve heard the old cliché that a person should bloom where planted? Why not go a step further and plant where you bloom? A flower is nice to look at, but it’s most fruitful when it dies and drops its seed.

God is calling every one of His children to do exactly the same thing. He compels us to die to self, do His will and plant seeds of love and life in those around us.

In John 12:24 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives.” (NLT)

Don’t be a “Someday” Christian. Don’t be a “Used-to” child of God. Do what you can where you are with what you have and watch God transform for the world beginning with your little corner of it.

Chris Surber is pastor of Cypress Chapel Christian Church in Suffolk. Visit his website at www.chrissurber.com.