“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”

  - Matthew 25.23

And this great favour was also conferred by God on that man of blessed memory, that, although he lived in this small and remote island of the Britannic ocean, he merited that his name should not only be illustriously renowned throughout our Ireland, and throughout Britain...but that it should reach even as far as Spain, and Gaul, and Italy...also the Roman city itself...

  - Adomnán, Life of Columba, Irish, 8th century

How much influence for good, and for the Kingdom of God, do you expect to wield?

Most of us lead fairly ordinary lives. We go to work, take care of our homes and families, enjoy a few diversions, participate in church. Everyday stuff. Nothing spectacular.

We’re not going to change the world. We’re just trying to do our jobs, take care of our business, get by.

Colum Cille (Columba) served most of his adult life on Iona, a small and isolated island to the west of Scotland, only making occasional forays to the mainland to preach the Gospel to the wild peoples there. But when he was busy on Iona – teaching, working, writing, training his followers – he stayed focused on the Lord’s calling and was faithful in every matter that came his way.

He knew that, whatever God wanted to do in and through his life, it would begin on that small, isolated chunk of wind-swept real estate.

As it turned out, Colum’s example, exertions, and exhortations became the means that launched waves of missionaries and evangelists from Iona to Europe, and built-up communities of holiness and scholarship in Iona, Ireland, and beyond.

Now we don’t expect to be the impetus for founding monasteries or churches, or for commissioning waves of missionaries into the world.

But if we are faithful in the things God gives us to do, looking to Him, honoring Him, and showing His grace and truth to those around us, there’s no telling what He might do far beyond us, both in place and time.

From the “little” of our lives, “much” good for the Kingdom can come.

Is it silly or futile to think about such things? To hope such things? I don’t think so. We should each aspire to leave a legacy of grace and truth behind us, an ever-expanding force field of Gospel power that begins in our homes, pervades our own Personal Mission Fields, and makes an impact far beyond us for many years to come.

Jesus, after all, is filling the world with Himself (Eph. 4.7-10). And how do we suppose He is doing that, if not through us, His people, and the ways we fulfill our relationships, roles, and responsibilities?

Jesus is filling all things in all things, flowing the life-giving living waters of His Word and Spirit through the likes of ordinary folk like you and me. How can we not believe that God intends “great things and mysteries” in and through us? How can we not nurture an expansive vision of what God can do through us, beginning from the little Ionas which are our everyday lives?

Do you dare to think or hope as much? Are you willing to seek God for it (Eph. 3.20)?

Psalm 96.1-4, 8-10 (Mit Freuden Zart: “All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above”)
Sing to the Lord! O, bless His Name! All nations tell His glory!
Salvation’s tidings loud proclaim; let earth rehearse His story!
For God is greatly to be praised; His throne above all gods is raised –
Fear Him, and sing His glory!

Bring off’rings sweet to Him, our Lord, in holy garments praise Him!
Tremble before Him, all the earth; among the nations raise Him!
The earth is fixed, it will not move; the peoples will His justice prove –
Exalt the Lord and praise Him.

Filling All Things?
Have you ever considered what it means that Jesus is “filling all things”?  I have prepared a brief, seven-lesson study on this topic which I will be happy to send you in a PDF, simply for the asking. Write to me and request the study, “To Fill All Things.” And remember, for your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe this month, in any amount, we’ll send you a copy of The Legacy of Patrick, which tells the story of Patrick’s mission to Ireland and the great revival which followed. That revival included Colum Cille and his ministry, which would never have occurred had not a high-school dropout and former slave followed his vision to preach the Gospel among the very people who had stolen him from his home as a youth. Use the donate button here or at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

You have the mind of Christ. Are you thinking with it?

T. M. Moore, Principal
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