RPG Juniors
ORDINARY DAYS
NOVEMBER 11, Ecclesiastes 3:1
“The jungle closed in around Pedro in Brazil,” Dad read aloud from the missionary book their family was currently using as part of their daily devotions. “Ever since Pedro became a Christian, other members of his tribe were determined to kill him. Even now, several men were not far behind on the jungle trail. There seemed no escape. Pedro prayed as he ran.”
“This is so scary!” Alexis whispered.
Dad continued reading. “Suddenly a masked man stepped out of the bushes just ahead. He motioned for Pedro to follow him and started moving deeper into the jungle. Should I follow? Pedro wondered. Is this man a friend? I’ve never seen him before. Pedro didn’t know what to do.” Dad stopped reading, looked up, put a marker in the book, and closed it. “End of chapter,” he said.
“Oh, no!” groaned Kurt. “Just one more page? I want to know what happened.” Mom shook her head. “There’s school tomorrow and you need to get to bed.”
After praying together, Kurt stretched. “Some people live such exciting lives, but mine is so… so ordinary. It’s school, band practice, studying, eating, sleeping, and more school.”
“Would you rather have the excitement of having someone try to kill you because you’re a Christian?” Alexis asked.
Kurt laughed. “Well, no,” he said, “but I still think my days are pretty dull.”
“God knows we need ordinary days to grow and to learn about Him,” said Dad. “Even great men of the Bible had ordinary days. Take Daniel, for example. He had to…” “His life was exciting!” Kurt interrupted. “He got thrown into a den of lions.” “Another bit of excitement I’m glad to do without,” observed Alexis.
Dad smiled. “Daniel didn’t face lions every day,” he said. “He also did many ordinary jobs in the king’s court. And the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker. He must have spent many days sewing, measuring, and cutting. We need to see all of our days as gifts from God. Do your best on every day He gives you.”
Kurt stood up with a yawn. “Yeah. Okay, I better get to bed then, so I can be rested for… ah-h-h…” He grinned. “For another ordinary day.”
Thought: Don’t keep thinking of holidays or special days – ordinary days are a gift from God, too!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for exciting days as well as ordinary days. Come what may, I pray I would remember every single day is a gift from You and I must treasure and do the best I can! In Jesus’ name, Amen.