The Little Things

   One saying that I have begun to say a lot, in soccer and life, is "do the little things." In soccer, there is a very simple objective: put the ball in the other team's net. However, to actually get the ball in the other team's net you have do many different things well. You must pass, do moves, communicate, switch the field, defend, transition, check in and check out on throw ins, be aggressive, support your teammates, shoot for the corners, etc. If even one of those things isn't done well it is possible that that simple objective of getting the ball in the net will not happen. If a soccer team does the little things well, they can make big things happen like scoring and winning the game.
   In life we also need to do the little things. We need to serve joyfully, do our best each day, love others, trust in God and his plan, be patient, be loyal, have self-control, etc. It may be easy for you to do some of these things. Some of us are good at serving, for others it is a struggle. Some of us are good at trusting in God's plan, others have problems trusting in him. Some of us are good at controlling ourselves, others have issues controlling themselves.
   Doing all of these things is not easy. However, if we do these little things big things will happen. Others will see that your life is different if you do these things. That may lead them to ask you why your life is different. Then you can tell that person about Christ and the person then has the opportunity to accept Christ in his/her heart. That's the biggest thing in the world to happen. If that happens that person is now saved. That person is now our brother or sister in Christ.
   That's why we need to do the little things. We need to do our best to emulate Christ each day. Ephesians 5:1-2 says "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Jesus did the little things. He loved others and followed God. He then did a very big thing: he died on the cross to save us from our sins so we can be with him forever. It's amazing if you think about it. Christ's actions of little things led up to the biggest event in the history of mankind. And he calls us to do little things as well. What big things could we make happen if we would do the little things God calls us to do?
   So, are you doing your best to emulate God each day? Are you doing the little things in order to make big things happen? Image from here.